By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Biohazard Cleanup: The Importance of Proper Disposal and Containment
    December 2, 2023
    Medicare Helps Seniors, and People with Disabilities & ESRD
    November 27, 2023
    The Link Between Allergies and Sinusitis & Strategies for Relief
    November 27, 2023
    What Health Complications Can a Sunburn Cause?
    November 22, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Thermalin Diabetes Follows the “Coulter Process” And Addresses Significant Needs in the Insulin Market
    December 27, 2011
    Will Power is Biological
    January 14, 2012
    Why Pilot Programs are a Waste of Time and Money
    August 26, 2017
    Latest News
    Automation in Pharmacovigilance: A Double-Edged Sword
    November 15, 2023
    What Does Science Say About Modern Health Practices?
    November 12, 2023
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    10 Proven Strategies to Level Up Your Health Business
    October 25, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: If the Wife Takes an Antidepressant, is the Husband Protected From Suicide?
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > If the Wife Takes an Antidepressant, is the Husband Protected From Suicide?
NewsSpecialties

If the Wife Takes an Antidepressant, is the Husband Protected From Suicide?

Rhona Finkel
Last updated: 2012/07/21 at 8:12 AM
Rhona Finkel
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

About one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant these days.

It’s a hip thing to do. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention Data Brief, “Antidepressant Use in Persons Aged 12 and Over: United States, 2005–2008,” shares some interesting statistics about how usage has grown, and who’s leading the charge. For example,

About one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant these days.

It’s a hip thing to do. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention Data Brief, “Antidepressant Use in Persons Aged 12 and Over: United States, 2005–2008,” shares some interesting statistics about how usage has grown, and who’s leading the charge. For example,

  • Antidepressants were the third most common prescription drug taken by Americans of all ages in 2005–2008 and the most frequently used by persons aged 18–44 years.
  • From 1988–1994 through 2005–2008, the rate of antidepressant use in the United States among all ages increased nearly 400%. AND
  • Women are 2½ times more likely to be taking an antidepressant than men.

Perhaps it’s not unrelated, then, given that depression is the major risk factor for taking one’s one life, that suicide rates have been decreasing in this country since 1985. In fact, from 1985-2004, the suicide rate dropped 13%, with declines among both genders, both more declines among men.

The discrepancy is similar among a variety of cultures and places. For example, in Finland, the number of suicides in 2007 declined by one-third from 1990, and the suicide rate among males was dropping so rapidly that the number of male suicides dropped in 2002 to a level not seen since the 1960s. Those years saw a simultaneous increase in antidepressant usage.

Suicide rates in Finland. See the numbers start to decline with the advent of the new antidepressants.

A Finnish study points out what seems to be painfully obvious:

“the increased use of [antidepressants] and especially of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) is associated with decreased rate of suicides.”

However, point out Raimo K. R. Salokangas, MD, PhD, Msc, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Turku in FInland,, and lead author on the article “Increased Use of Antidepressants in Women Decreases Suicides in Men: An Ecological Study,” the suicide rate declined more in men than in women, while the rates of antidepressant-prescriptions grew faster among women than men.

The authors asked, in short, What gives?

So, using nationwide data on completed suicides and antidepressant prescriptions between 1994-2001, the authors determined that, in fact, “antidepressant prescriptions in women significantly explained suicide rate in men.”

Yes, they factored in men’s use of antidepressants, as well, and, sure enough, even with variable removed, the findings still stood.

They conclude that:

“It is possible that increased use of antidepressants in women, in addition to decreasing their own depressiveness and anxiety, also leads to decreased depressiveness in their close social networks, thereby decreasing stress and suicidality in men belonging to this network.”

It’s quite an interesting finding, since it lends itself to a belief that depression is contagious in a way, something that has been backed up by previous research.

For example, Howes et al (1995) found that roommates of persistently depressed people scored more highly on depressive scales over the course of their study. And Abela (2009) found that in negatively attached children, when their parents’ depressive symptoms increased, so did theirs.

Sometimes the best thing you can do to help a depressed man in your life. . .is start taking the pills you wish he’d take, yourself.

REFERENCES

Haukka J et al. Antidepressant use and mortality in Finland: a register-linkage study from a nationwide cohort. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2009; 65:715-720.

Salokangas RKR. Increased Use of Antidepressants in Women Decreases Suicides in Men: An Ecological Study. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders.

Filed under: Candida Abrahamson PhD

TAGGED: anti-depressants, depression, pharmaceuticals

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Rhona Finkel July 21, 2012 July 21, 2012
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article National Alzheimer’s Plan Presented
Next Article Early Radical Prostatectomy Trial: Does it Mean What You Think It Means?

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

weight loss
The Key Steps For Affective Weight Loss And Improving Health
Weight Loss Wellness December 6, 2023
Empowering Wellness: HBOT for Home Use Demystified
Empowering Wellness: HBOT for Home Use Demystified
Wellness December 5, 2023
Invasive Dentistry
Precision And Comfort: The Role Of Lasers In Minimally Invasive Dentistry
Dental health Specialties December 4, 2023
sublingual immunotherapy
Sublingual Immunotherapy: A Safe and Effective Alternative to Allergy Shots
Allergy Specialties December 2, 2023

You Might also Like

Invasive Dentistry
Dental healthSpecialties

Precision And Comfort: The Role Of Lasers In Minimally Invasive Dentistry

December 4, 2023
sublingual immunotherapy
AllergySpecialties

Sublingual Immunotherapy: A Safe and Effective Alternative to Allergy Shots

December 2, 2023
allergies and sinusitis
Health

The Link Between Allergies and Sinusitis & Strategies for Relief

November 27, 2023
Sunburned
Health

What Health Complications Can a Sunburn Cause?

November 22, 2023
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US
© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?