Study of Antidepressants and Suicide is Retracted

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A controversial 2010 paper, “Antidepressant Medication Prevents Suicide in Depression”, has been retracted by Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. In a contemporaneous issue of British Journal of Psychiatry, the study’s author Goran Isaacson (along with Charles Rich) debated the study’s premise with Jon Jureidini and Melissa Raven, who wrote “we agree that ‘the hypothesis that suicide might be prevented by the treatment of depression is not far-fetched’. However, Isacsson & Rich have failed to produce robust evidence for their much stronger claim that ‘treatment with antidepressants prevents suicide’.” Isaacson has acknowledged an “error in our database” which, when corrected, allows no conclusion to be drawn.

Article →

Links:
“Antidepressant Medication Prevents Suicide in Depression” Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2010 (122) 454-460 (Retracted Article)

“The increased use of antidepressants has contributed to the worldwide reduction in suicide rates” British Journal of Psychiatry” 2010 (196) 429-433 (Debate)

Retraction 

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Kermit Cole
Kermit Cole
Kermit Cole, MFT, founding editor of Mad in America, works in Santa Fe, New Mexico as a couples and family therapist. Inspired by Open Dialogue, he works as part of a team and consults with couples and families that have members identified as patients. His work in residential treatment — largely with severely traumatized and/or "psychotic" clients — led to an appreciation of the power and beauty of systemic philosophy and practice, as the alternative to the prevailing focus on individual pathology. A former film-maker, he has undergraduate and master's degrees in psychology from Harvard University, as well as an MFT degree from the Council for Relationships in Philadelphia. He is a doctoral candidate with the Taos Institute and the Free University of Brussels. You can reach him at [email protected].

3 COMMENTS

  2. Thanks Kermit.
    The “loop”, if broken, can prevent suicides.
    The loop of whatever is bothering a person.
    In many young, this loop cannot be broken, they need adults to step in and
    change the environment.
    In the “labeled”, and medicated, the suggestions of a loop syndrome can be beneficial.
    I invented a new diagnosis, called “the loop syndrome”

    We all participate in this loop syndrome, beyond our awareness, even shrinks do.

    When a loop has symptoms, discontent, disruption, or causes disruption, it needs redirection.

    Report comment

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