Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure?
Introduction SSRI’s are consistently associated with violent events in the adult population. However, the causality between SSRI use and violent behaviour was never found. Several recent studies draw the attention to this hypothesis while they were inspired by several mass murderers in the United S...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822008926/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617405303717888 |
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| author | S. Sneep S. Petrykiv |
| author_facet | S. Sneep S. Petrykiv |
| author_sort | S. Sneep |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
SSRI’s are consistently associated with violent events in the adult population. However, the causality between SSRI use and violent behaviour was never found. Several recent studies draw the attention to this hypothesis while they were inspired by several mass murderers in the United States.
Objectives
A literature research on studies exploring the association between SSRI use and violent behaviour.
Methods
The authors performed a literature search (1966–2020) using PubMed and Embase to review studies where a possible link between SSRI’s and violent behaviour in adults was assessed.
Results
94 studies were identified, of which 6 studies were included. There is no association between the use of SSRI’s and violent behaviour in the general population. However, an increased hazard of violent behaviour was observed in young man and those with a history of violent crime.
Conclusions
Overall, SSRI treatment is safe in the general population. Certain subgroups can, however, be vulnerable to aggressive flare-ups, especially during on-treatment period and the first 12 weeks after drug discontinuation. Therefore, careful monitoring throughout these critical periods is strongly recommended.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:54:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3cda3f4030d24f8082d2cb7ffc4fda23 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:54:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-3cda3f4030d24f8082d2cb7ffc4fda232023-11-17T05:05:57ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S351S35110.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.892Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure?S. Sneep0S. Petrykiv1GGZ Westelijk Noord Brabant, Psychiatry, Halsteren, NetherlandsGGZWNB, Psychiatry, Halsteren, Netherlands Introduction SSRI’s are consistently associated with violent events in the adult population. However, the causality between SSRI use and violent behaviour was never found. Several recent studies draw the attention to this hypothesis while they were inspired by several mass murderers in the United States. Objectives A literature research on studies exploring the association between SSRI use and violent behaviour. Methods The authors performed a literature search (1966–2020) using PubMed and Embase to review studies where a possible link between SSRI’s and violent behaviour in adults was assessed. Results 94 studies were identified, of which 6 studies were included. There is no association between the use of SSRI’s and violent behaviour in the general population. However, an increased hazard of violent behaviour was observed in young man and those with a history of violent crime. Conclusions Overall, SSRI treatment is safe in the general population. Certain subgroups can, however, be vulnerable to aggressive flare-ups, especially during on-treatment period and the first 12 weeks after drug discontinuation. Therefore, careful monitoring throughout these critical periods is strongly recommended. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822008926/type/journal_articleSSRIviolent behaviour |
| spellingShingle | S. Sneep S. Petrykiv Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure? European Psychiatry SSRI violent behaviour |
| title | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure? |
| title_full | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure? |
| title_fullStr | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure? |
| title_short | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime: do SSRI’s kill or cure? |
| title_sort | selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violent crime do ssri s kill or cure |
| topic | SSRI violent behaviour |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822008926/type/journal_article |
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