Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Violent Crime: A Cohort Study

From Swedish national registers we extracted information on 856,493 individuals who were prescribed SSRIs, and subsequent violent crimes during 2006 through 2009. We used stratified Cox regression analyses to compare the rate of violent crime while individuals were prescribed these medications with the rate in the same individuals while not receiving medication. Adjustments were made for other psychotropic medications. Information on all medications was extracted from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, with complete national data on all dispensed medications. Information on violent crime convictions was extracted from the Swedish national crime register. 
  • Using within-individual models, there was an overall association between SSRIs and violent crime convictions
  • With age stratification, there was a significant association between SSRIs and violent crime convictions for individuals aged 15 to 24 y
  • However, there were no significant associations in those aged 25–34 y, in those aged 35–44 y, or in those aged 45 y or older
  • Associations in those aged 15 to 24 y were also found for violent crime arrests with preliminary investigations, non-violent crime convictions, non-violent crime arrests, non-fatal injuries from accidents, and emergency inpatient or outpatient treatment for alcohol intoxication or misuse
  • With age and sex stratification, there was a significant association between SSRIs and violent crime convictions for males aged 15 to 24 y and females aged 15 to 24 y
  • However, there were no significant associations in those aged 25 y or older. 
  • One important limitation is that we were unable to fully account for time-varying factors.

The association between SSRIs and violent crime convictions and violent crime arrests varied by age group. The increased risk we found in young people needs validation in other studies.


Read more at:  http://goo.gl/ALGxLh

By: Yasmina Molero, Clara Hellner Gumpert
Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Paul Lichtenstein, Johan Zetterqvist
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Seena Fazel
Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

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