Sedatives linked with raised suicide risk for elderly
Sedatives linked with raised suicide risk for elderly
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Thursday, 04, Jun 2009 09:11
Scientists have claimed sleeping tablets are associated with a four-fold increase in suicide risk among the elderly.
New research published in the journal BMC Geriatrics shows sedatives and hypnotics are both associated with an increased risk of suicide.
The authors claim their study showed sedative treatment was associated with an almost 14-fold increase in suicide risk in the crude analyses and remained an independent risk factor even after adjustment for the presence of mental disorders.
Anders Carlsten, from Gothenburg University, added that hypnotics were also associated with a four-fold increase in suicide risk in the adjusted model.
The researchers in the new study speculate the drugs may increase the risk of suicide by triggering aggressive or impulsive behaviour, or by providing the means for people to take an overdose.
They also add the fact that the drugs may merely be markers for some other factor related to suicide risk, such as somatic illness, functional disability, alcohol use disorder, or sleep disturbance.
Mr Carlsten adds: "People with these problems might be more likely to seek health care and perhaps more likely to receive prescriptions for psychotropic drugs.
"However, given the extremely high prescription rates for these drugs, a careful evaluation of the suicide risk should always precede prescribing a sedative or hypnotic to an elderly individual".