The DOI matches its Crossref record; 20 of the 21 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Toxicity of antidepressants: rates of suicide relative to prescribing and non-fatal overdose
Open accessAbstract
Background: Self-poisoning is a common method of suicide and often involves ingestion of antidepressants. Information on the relative toxicity of antidepressants is therefore extremely important. Aims: To assess the relative toxicity of specific tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Method: Observational study of prescriptions (UK), poisoning deaths involving single antidepressants receiving coroners' verdicts of suicide or undetermined intent (England and Wales) and non-fatal self-poisoning episodes presenting to six general hospitals (in Oxford, Manchester and Derby) between 2000 and 2006. Calculation of fatal toxicity index based on ratio of rates of deaths to prescriptions, and case fatality based on ratio of rates of deaths to non-fatal self-poisonings. Results: Fatal toxicity and case fatality indices provided very similar results (rho for relative ranking of indices 0.99). Case fatality rate ratios showed greater toxicity for TCAs (13.8, 95% CI 13.0–14.7) than the SNRI venlafaxine (2.5, 95% CI 2.0–3.1) and the NaSSA mirtazapine (1.9, 95% CI 1.1–2.9), both of which had greater toxicity than the SSRIs (0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.7). Within the TCAs, compared with amitriptyline both dosulepin (relative toxicity index 2.7) and doxepin (2.6) were more toxic. Within the SSRIs, citalopram had a higher case fatality than the other SSRIs (1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 v. 0.3, 95% CI 0.2–0.4). Conclusions: There are wide differences in toxicity not only between classes of antidepressants, but also within classes. The findings are relevant to prescribing decisions, especially in individuals at risk, and to regulatory policy.
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“The results showed that the case fatality rate ratio was significantly less with SSRIs (0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.7) than with TCAs (13.8, 95% CI 13.0–14.7).”
From Addressing the Side Effects of Contemporary Antidepressant Drugs: A Comprehensive Review (2018) · cites this paper as [62]
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“The fatal toxicity index was also greatest for TCAs compared to Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine, and SSRIs (Table 4).”
From Addressing the Side Effects of Contemporary Antidepressant Drugs: A Comprehensive Review (2018) · cites this paper as [62]
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Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 21 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
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Cited by
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Metadata
- Authors
- Hawton, K., Bergen, H., Simkin, S., Cooper, J., Waters, K., Gunnell, D., & Kapur, N.
- Affiliations
- Warneford Hospital (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Royal Derby Hospital (GB)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hawton, Keith
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 196
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 354-358
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- PMC
- PMC2862059
- OpenAlex
- W2145923858
- Cited by
- 192
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 13.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (RP-PG-0606-1247)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Keywords
- antidepressant toxicity, suicide, self-poisoning, antidepressant overdose, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, amitriptyline, doxepin, dosulepin, citalopram, case fatality, antidepressant prescribing
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Child, England, Humans, Middle Aged, Drug Prescriptions, Suicide, Wales, Young Adult, Drug Overdose
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