Fluoxetine and suicidal preoccupation
Abstract
SIR:Suicidal H. Teicher,Preoccupation M.D., and associates ( 1 ) reportedlarge novopatient intensepopulations are suicidal ideationsnecessary arc a sideto confirm that effect of fluoxctinc.the emergence of intense suicidal preoccupation during fluoxetine treatment, with an estimated incidence of 1.3%-7.S%. We reviewed all patients who received fluoxetinc from the outpatient pharmacy at a Veterans Administration hospitalduring the period ofApnil 1989 to April 1991. Policy dictatedREFERENCES 1. Teicher MH, Glod C, Cole JO: Emergence of intense suicidal preoccupation during fluoxetine treatment. Am J Psychiatry 1990; 147:207-210 2. Fava M, Rosenbaum JF: Suicidality and fluoxetine: is there a relationship? in New Research Program and Abstracts, 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. Washington, DC, APA, I 990 E. ALEXANDRA ASHLEIGH, F. ANNE FESLER, Seattle, M.D M.D. Wash.that patients must have failed more traditional pharmacotherapy or have another clear indication for use of fluoxetinc. Fluoxetinc was prescribed for 255 patients. Of these, six patients did not take the fluoxetinc. Of the remaining 249, foblow-up was obtained for 206, or 82%. One hundred thirty-six patients were studied retrospectively, and 71 patients werestudied prospectively (beginning August 1990). Information change in suiIn those fewwas providedby the treatingphysician.history during and any treatment.Physicians reported suicide cidal or homicidal