Sleeping Pills Quadrupled the Risk of Suicide in Older

The sleeping pills quadrupled the risk of suicide in the elderly, according to a study by the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), which is published in the journal ‘BioMed Central Geriatrics. The researchers show that even after taking into account the presence of psychiatric disorders, sedatives and hypnotics are associated with an increased risk of suicide

The researchers, led by Anders Carlsten and Margda Waern, conducted a study to determine whether specific types of psychoactive drugs were associated with the risk of suicide in the advanced stages of life.

Carlsten says, “Sedative treatment was associated with an increase of at least fourteen times the risk of suicide in the crude analysis and remained an independent risk factor of suicide even after taking into account the presence of mental disorders in elderly. Continue a hypnotic treatment was associated with a four times greater risk of suicide in the case of the model adjusted for mental disorders. ”

The researchers argue that the drugs could increase the risk of suicide lead to impulsive or aggressive behavior or provide the means for people to take an overdose.

The authors also point to the possibility that these drugs could be markers of some other factors associated with risk of suicide as somatic illness, disability, alcohol abuse disorders, interpersonal problems, social support or lack of good night sleep.

Carlsten concludes that people with these problems may be more likely to seek medical attention and may be treated with psychotropic drugs. However, the researcher points out that given the high rates of prescription of these drugs, you should always make an assessment of suicide risk before prescribing a sedative-hypnotic or an older person.