Gerontology & Geriatric Research

DOES ACUTE TREATMENT WITH BENZODIAZEPINES AFFECT SUICIDE RISK IN ELDERLY?

5^th International Conference on Geriatric Medicine & Gerontological Nursing

November 14-15, 2016 | Atlanta, USA

Nagy A. Youssef

Augusta University, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Gerontol Geriat Res

Abstract:

Anxiety (among several other symptoms) has been identified in one prospective study as associated with suicide risk in depressed patients early in treatment. It has been suggested that treatment of anxiety in depression with sedative/hypnotic agents, especially benzodiazepines, may decrease suicide risk. Sedative/hypnotic agents (S/H) including benzodiazepines also have depression and disinhibitory properties which might increase suicide risk. This review addresses these potential risks (and weigh it with any benefits) with regard to suicide. Pertinent medical literature will be reviewed in depth. The review did not reveal any evidence that using benzodiazepines (or S/H) as an early adjunct to antidepressant treatment of anxious, depressed patients (or otherwise) decreases their suicide risk. There is considerable evidence that S/H produce depressant and/or disinhibitory effects in a small proportion (perhaps 5%) of people who take them. Toxicological data on suicides indicate that a majority of people who commit suicide are under the influence of S/H chemicals (including alcohol) at the time of suicide. Alternatives to sedative/hypnotics should be used if early adjunctive treatment for anxiety in depressed patients is thought to be indicated.

Biography :

Nagy A. Youssef is an Associate Professor at the Medical College of Georgia, AU. His primary academic interest include clinical, education and research in treatmentresistant psychiatric disorders especially mood disorders and PTSD and suicide prevention. He is interested in the mechanistic understanding at the environment-genomic interface and brain stimulation interventions of these disorders. He did medical school at Cairo University (Egypt); psychiatry residency and postgraduate fellowship at the University of South Alabama and Yale University; and a research fellowship at both Durham VA and Duke University. He was on the faculty at Duke University before moving to Augusta.

Email: nyoussef@augusta.edu