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VETERANS WILL BE PART OF RESEARCH ON
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
AND SUICIDE -- National Institute of Mental
Health
is funding five such projects.
Story here...
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-11/niom-nrs111306.php
Story below:
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New research strives to understand how antidepressants may be associated
with suicidality
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National
Institutes of Health, is funding five new research projects that will
shed light on antidepressant medications, notably selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and their association with suicidal
thoughts and actions (suicidality).
Studies have shown that most individuals suffering from moderate and
severe depression, even those with suicidal thoughts, can substantially
benefit from antidepressant medication treatment. However, use of SSRIs
in children and adolescents has become controversial. In 2005, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adopted a "black box" warning--the
most serious type of warning in prescription drug labeling--for all
SSRIs. The notice alerts doctors and patients of the potential for SSRIs
to prompt suicidal thinking in children and adolescents, and urges
diligent clinical monitoring of individuals of all ages taking the
medications. This can be particularly challenging because it is
difficult for patients, their family members and practitioners to
determine whether suicidal thoughts may be related to the depression,
the medication, or both.
"These new, multi-year projects will clarify the connection between SSRI
use and suicidality," said NIMH Director Thomas Insel, M.D. "They will
help determine why and how SSRIs may trigger suicidal thinking and
behavior in some people but not others, and may lead to new tools that
will help us screen for those who are most vulnerable," he added.
The projects are listed below.
* Kelly Kelleher, M.D., of Columbus Children's Hospital and the Ohio
State University, and Joel Greenhouse, PhD, of Carnegie Mellon
University, will build on data initially collected by the FDA to analyze
antidepressant medication use and suicidal behavior among youth, adults
and older adults. Dr. Kelleher will use new and more sensitive
statistical approaches to integrate data from numerous other
studies--both randomized and non-experimental--to paint a more complete
picture of the relationship between antidepressant medication use and
suicidal thoughts or actions.
* Marcia Valenstein, M.D., of the University of Michigan, will examine
the records of 994,000 individuals from the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs National Registry for Depression, Medicare records and the
National Death Index to determine what relationships exist between the
use of antidepressants and suicide attempts and/or deaths, and use of
any concurrent medications or treatments. The study will help determine
the relative effectiveness of different depression treatments in
reducing suicidal thoughts and actions.
* Wayne Goodman, M.D., of the University of Florida, will investigate if
and how SSRIs may induce in some young people an "activation
syndrome"--a set of symptoms such as irritability, agitation and mood
swings that may lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. He will study this
potential syndrome among pediatric patients diagnosed with obsessive
compulsive disorder. By focusing on patients with a disorder that is
less likely to be associated with suicidality, he will be able to better
assess whether SSRIs are related to an actual activation syndrome, and
whether suicidality is a component of the syndrome. The study will
improve recognition and understanding of the syndrome, and help identify
interventions that will reduce the risk of suicide.
* Sebastian Schneeweiss, M.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, will
assess critical issues surrounding the safety of antidepressant
medication use by comparing several large datasets of SSRI users. He
will measure rates of suicidality; identify social and demographic
factors that may be associated with SSRI use and suicidality; and
examine the impact of FDA actions on use of SSRIs. The study aims to
develop and better target prescribing and risk management strategies.
* Prudence Winslow Fisher, PhD., of the New York State Psychiatric
Institute, will develop better and more reliable ways of monitoring for
adverse reactions to the use of antidepressant medication. The study's
long-term goal is to construct a standardized computer tool for
adolescents and parents that could be used to screen for suicidality
associated with the use of antidepressant medications.
###
In addition to these new projects, NIMH is currently funding other
studies that aim to find the best treatments for individuals suffering
from depression, and reduce or prevent suicidal behavior. Studies
focused on youth depression and suicidal behavior include the Treatment
for Adolescents with Depression study, the Treatment of SSRI-Resistant
Depression in Adolescents, and the Treatment of Adolescent Suicide
Attempters.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) mission is to reduce the
burden of mental and behavioral disorders through research on mind,
brain, and behavior. More information is available at the NIMH website,
http://www.nimh.nih.gov . The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research
Agency - includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.
S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal
agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational
medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures
for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov
.
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Larry Scott
