Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/82689 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2005:4
Publisher: 
Uppsala University, Department of Economics, Uppsala
Abstract: 
Recent research claims that the major part of the observed reduction in suicide rates during the 1990’s can be explained by the increase in the prescription of antidepressants. This conclusion is however based on research that only looks at raw correlations; confounding effects from other variables are not controlled for. Using a rich data set, we reinvestigate the issue. After controlling for other covariates, observed as well as unobserved, that might affect the suicide rate, we find, overall, no statistically significant effects from antidepressants on the suicide rate; when we do get significant effects, they are positive for young persons. Regarding the latter result, more research is needed before any firm policy conclusion can be made.
Subjects: 
Suicide
antidepressants
Poisson fixed effects
JEL: 
C23
I12
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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