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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mist on June 27, 2001, at 19:22:04
Does anyone know what percentage of people who attempt suicide are on meds to treat depression at the time?
I'm wondering if most suicides are people with untreated depression(or other mental health problems), or those whose treatment hasn't been successful.
Posted by judy1 on June 27, 2001, at 23:40:57
In reply to Suicides on Meds?, posted by mist on June 27, 2001, at 19:22:04
I don't know statistics, but I remember reading in Jamison's book on suicide that people tend to commit suicide as they are recovering from depression- that is their AD gives them enough energy to actually complete the act. I'm sure anyone on this board who has felt suicidal can relate to that; when you are truly in the depths of depression, you can barely move never mind go to the effort of killing yourself. I don't know why I sound so bleak here, must be a mood swing- judy
Posted by mist on June 28, 2001, at 9:46:28
In reply to Re: Suicides on Meds? » mist, posted by judy1 on June 27, 2001, at 23:40:57
That's interesting, and very unfortunate.-mist
> I don't know statistics, but I remember reading in Jamison's book on suicide that people tend to commit suicide as they are recovering from depression- that is their AD gives them enough energy to actually complete the act. I'm sure anyone on this board who has felt suicidal can relate to that; when you are truly in the depths of depression, you can barely move never mind go to the effort of killing yourself. I don't know why I sound so bleak here, must be a mood swing- judy
Posted by Ted on June 28, 2001, at 10:56:24
In reply to Re: Suicides on Meds? » mist, posted by judy1 on June 27, 2001, at 23:40:57
According to my former pdoc, this phenomenon is most typical only of those with bipolar disorder.
I seem to recall something like one-third to one-half of all attempted/completed suicides are by those already receiving treatment. This, IMHO, is really a problem -- something has to be done to make sure that those most at risk have the support to stay safe.
Ted
> I don't know statistics, but I remember reading
>in Jamison's book on suicide that people tend to
>commit suicide as they are recovering from
>depression- that is their AD gives them enough
>energy to actually complete the act.
Posted by kazoo on June 30, 2001, at 1:35:02
In reply to Re: Suicides on Meds?, posted by Ted on June 28, 2001, at 10:56:24
> According to my former pdoc, this phenomenon is most typical only of those with bipolar disorder.
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don't count on it. This "phenomenon" is common with all people, on or off drugs, it doesn't matter. The suicide rate amongst the people of Greenland is astronomical and not via drugs, but via the natural extended periods of darkness. Suicide is an equal-opportunity killer.> I seem to recall something like one-third to one-half of all attempted/completed suicides are by those already receiving treatment. This, IMHO, is really a problem -- something has to be done to make sure that those most at risk have the support to stay safe.
^^^^^^^
Some problem, indeed!I remember back in the mid-1970s, when Deseryl (trazadone) was first released, its main selling point was that it was an "Anti-Suicide Drug" (for some idiotic reason) ... naturally, by the company's Public Relations department. That stupid label didn't last long, for obvious reasons, as patients started to use the drug in large amounts to *purposely* overdose themselves.
Let me give you an interesting fact: more people overdose on simple Aspirin than any other drug on the market. Why? Availabilty, and it is potent stuff.
Greetings to Ted
(a revamped) kazoo
Posted by AMenz on July 3, 2001, at 9:04:19
In reply to Re: Suicides on Meds? » Ted, posted by kazoo on June 30, 2001, at 1:35:02
I have read that the reason for this phenomenon is that the AD's lift some of the depressive symptoms such as lethargy, inactivity, etc., prior to lifting the mood. It is in that "window of opportunity" that the individual still feeling melancholic but now activated attempts suicide.
On the other hand is suicide always a bad thing? I tnik suicide on impulse like what we are talking about here is bad. But do people have the right to decide to terminate their lives.
> > According to my former pdoc, this phenomenon is most typical only of those with bipolar disorder.
> >
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Don't count on it. This "phenomenon" is common with all people, on or off drugs, it doesn't matter. The suicide rate amongst the people of Greenland is astronomical and not via drugs, but via the natural extended periods of darkness. Suicide is an equal-opportunity killer.
>
>
>
> > I seem to recall something like one-third to one-half of all attempted/completed suicides are by those already receiving treatment. This, IMHO, is really a problem -- something has to be done to make sure that those most at risk have the support to stay safe.
>
> ^^^^^^^
> Some problem, indeed!
>
> I remember back in the mid-1970s, when Deseryl (trazadone) was first released, its main selling point was that it was an "Anti-Suicide Drug" (for some idiotic reason) ... naturally, by the company's Public Relations department. That stupid label didn't last long, for obvious reasons, as patients started to use the drug in large amounts to *purposely* overdose themselves.
>
> Let me give you an interesting fact: more people overdose on simple Aspirin than any other drug on the market. Why? Availabilty, and it is potent stuff.
>
> Greetings to Ted
>
> (a revamped) kazoo
This is the end of the thread.
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