Abstract
Controversy has surrounded the use of antidepressants and suicidal behaviors in youth. This study reviewed the Medical Examiner's Office records of 253 persons aged 24 years or younger classified as suicides in Miami-Dade County, Florida, from 1990 to 2007. Information was collected regarding demographic information, suicidal characteristics, psychiatric and psychosocial factors, and toxicology results. Eighty-five percent of the sample was men, and 53.4% of the subjects were Hispanic. Consistent with previous literature, the existence of antidepressants at autopsy was rare; present in only 6% (n = 15) of the victims. The occurrence of antidepressants was not significantly different between Hispanics (n = 7) and non-Hispanics (n = 8). The incidence of antidepressants was weakly correlated with a tendency to be men and no history of psychiatric illness. The presence of antidepressants in Hispanic youth suicide victims was similar to non-Hispanics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 155-160 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Forensic Sciences |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2011 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Antidepressants
- Forensic science
- Hispanics
- Suicide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Genetics
Cite this
Antidepressants at Autopsy in Hispanic Suicidal Youth in Miami-Dade County, Florida. / Cortes, Edmi; Cubano, Antonio; Lewis, John E; Castellanos, Daniel.
In: Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 56, No. 1, 01.01.2011, p. 155-160.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Antidepressants at Autopsy in Hispanic Suicidal Youth in Miami-Dade County, Florida
AU - Cortes, Edmi
AU - Cubano, Antonio
AU - Lewis, John E
AU - Castellanos, Daniel
PY - 2011/1/1
Y1 - 2011/1/1
N2 - Controversy has surrounded the use of antidepressants and suicidal behaviors in youth. This study reviewed the Medical Examiner's Office records of 253 persons aged 24 years or younger classified as suicides in Miami-Dade County, Florida, from 1990 to 2007. Information was collected regarding demographic information, suicidal characteristics, psychiatric and psychosocial factors, and toxicology results. Eighty-five percent of the sample was men, and 53.4% of the subjects were Hispanic. Consistent with previous literature, the existence of antidepressants at autopsy was rare; present in only 6% (n = 15) of the victims. The occurrence of antidepressants was not significantly different between Hispanics (n = 7) and non-Hispanics (n = 8). The incidence of antidepressants was weakly correlated with a tendency to be men and no history of psychiatric illness. The presence of antidepressants in Hispanic youth suicide victims was similar to non-Hispanics.
AB - Controversy has surrounded the use of antidepressants and suicidal behaviors in youth. This study reviewed the Medical Examiner's Office records of 253 persons aged 24 years or younger classified as suicides in Miami-Dade County, Florida, from 1990 to 2007. Information was collected regarding demographic information, suicidal characteristics, psychiatric and psychosocial factors, and toxicology results. Eighty-five percent of the sample was men, and 53.4% of the subjects were Hispanic. Consistent with previous literature, the existence of antidepressants at autopsy was rare; present in only 6% (n = 15) of the victims. The occurrence of antidepressants was not significantly different between Hispanics (n = 7) and non-Hispanics (n = 8). The incidence of antidepressants was weakly correlated with a tendency to be men and no history of psychiatric illness. The presence of antidepressants in Hispanic youth suicide victims was similar to non-Hispanics.
KW - Antidepressants
KW - Forensic science
KW - Hispanics
KW - Suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650731157&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650731157&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01541.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01541.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 20840294
AN - SCOPUS:78650731157
VL - 56
SP - 155
EP - 160
JO - Journal of Forensic Sciences
JF - Journal of Forensic Sciences
SN - 0022-1198
IS - 1
ER -