Dr. Arif Kahn analysis of Psych Drug Trials Reveals High Suicide risk

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http://www.ahrp.org/infomail/0902/06.html

 

September 6, 2002.

 

Dr. Arif Kahn analysis of Psych Drug Trials Reveals High Suicide risk.

 

FYI

 

Clinical Psychiatry News online reports (below) that an independent analysis of

the suicide rate in psychotropic drug trials-- for drugs approved by the FDA

between 1985-2000-- found that the NEW DRUGS did NOT REDUCE the risk of

suicide--they INCREASED the risk.

 

At a meeting of the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit sponsored by the National

Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Arif Khan raised serious concerns about the

apparent link to suicide of the new psychotropic drugs: " 'We have to ask if

medication is the only way' to approach the prevention of suicide? "

 

Dr. Kahn analyzed the FDA data on suicide rates for more than 71,604 patients

who were treated in clinical trials. He noted that despite the fact that

patients who are suicidal are excluded from clinical trials--the suicide rates

in these trials are exceedingly high:

 

 

752 per 100,000 persons for those treated with atypical

antipsychotics--risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine;

 

 

718 per 100, 000 persons for those treated with alll the selective serotonin

reuptake inhibitors;

 

 

425 suicides for those treated for " social anxiety disorder " with nefazodone,

mirtazapine, and bupropion;

 

 

136 suicides for those treated for panic disroder--with benzodiazepine

alprazolam;

 

 

105 suicides for those treated for obesessive-compulsive disorder with

anticonvulsant valproate. [The suicide rate of persons in the population at

large is 11 per 100,000 per year.]

 

 

 

The FDA data shows that there is a similarly increased risk fo attempted

suicide:

5% of patients who enroll in antipsychotic trials will attempt suicide in the

following year;

 

 

3.7% of those in antidepressant trials will make an attempt; and

 

 

1.2% of those in trials of medication for anxiety disorders will attempt

suicide.

 

 

 

Dr. Khan's finding raises serious ethical questions about clinical trials in

psychiatry: Are patients assigned to placebo exposed to increased mortality

risk? Or, as the article points out, some observers " have suggested that

psychotropics may themselves increase the risk of suicide. "

 

Dr. Khan further suggested that " The high rates of suicide among patients

studied might suggest an " iceberg effect " in the general population. The numbers

that come to light under the close scrutiny of the clinical trial situation

indicate the extent to which attempted and completed suicides are concealed or

mislabeled in the community. "

 

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