Suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants reported to United States poison control centers, 2000–2020

Abstract

Context/Objective

This study investigates characteristics of suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants among individuals 13 years and older reported to US poison control centers from 2000–2020.

Methods

Data from the National Poison Data System were retrospectively analyzed.

Results/Discussion

There were 744,853 suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts among individuals 13 years and older involving antidepressants as the first-ranked substance during the study period. Teenagers accounted for 28.6% of cases and females represented 68.7% of cases. From 2000–2019, the rate of calls received by US poison control centers for suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants per 100,000 US population 13 years and older increased from 17.4 to 28.4 (p < 0.0001); however, teenagers experienced the largest increase in rate from 30.4 in 2000 to 83.3 in 2019, with a rapid rate increase beginning in 2011. Individuals 60 years and older were more likely to be admitted to a health care facility than teenagers (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 2.12–2.25). A serious medical outcome was documented in 36.3% of cases, with death occurring in 0.2% of cases. A serious medical outcome was more than twice as likely (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 2.51–2.64) and death was 16 times more likely (OR: 16.19, 95% CI: 13.29–19.73) to occur among individuals 60 years or older than teenagers. SSRIs were most often involved (41.0%) in cases; however, TCAs had the largest proportion of serious medical outcomes (59.8%). TCAs were more likely to result in a serious medical outcome (OR: 4.36, 95% CI: 4.29–4.43) or death (OR: 12.56, 95% CI: 10.91–14.46) than SSRIs.

Conclusions

The increase in the rate of suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants reported to US poison control centers, particularly among teenagers, emphasizes the need for increased prevention efforts. The greater severity of medical outcomes among older adults also warrants attention.

Keywords:

• Antidepressants
• antidepressant overdose
• suicide
• nonfatal attempted suicide
• self-poisoning
• self-harm

Geographical information

United States

Disclosure statement

The authors have no financial disclosures relevant to this study.

Funding source

See manuscript with author details.

Data availability statement

This study utilized data from the National Poison Data System, which is owned by the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Submission statement

This submission has not been published anywhere previously and is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.