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Epilepsy

Risk of suicidal behavior with antiepileptic drugs

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 6, pages 651–653 (2010)Cite this article

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Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are receiving increasing attention for a possible association with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Several recent studies examining this association, however, have yielded inconsistent findings, particularly in terms of the risk of suicidal behavior conferred by specific AEDs. In patients with epilepsy, heightened suicide risk is also attributable to comorbid psychiatric conditions.

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Acknowledgements

R. J. Baldessarini was supported, in part, by a grant from the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation and by the McLean Private Donors Psychopharmacology and Mood Disorder Research Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome, 00189, Italy

    Maurizio Pompili

  2. Harvard Medical School and Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, 02478, MA, USA

    Ross J. Baldessarini

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  1. Maurizio Pompili
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  2. Ross J. Baldessarini
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Correspondence to Maurizio Pompili.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Pompili, M., Baldessarini, R. Risk of suicidal behavior with antiepileptic drugs. Nat Rev Neurol 6, 651–653 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2010.165

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