Posted by SLS on October 4, 2015, at 14:30:55
In reply to Re: Shooters and Psychiatry, posted by SLS on October 4, 2015, at 12:52:02
> > Here's a website I found showing the rate of various types of crimes in the US since 1960
> > http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
> >
> > You can compare the numbers to the population numbers shown for each year. And actually, the ratio for violent crimes has decreased a bit in recent years.
>
> Is it possible that the statistics are influenced by a differences in reporting practices over the last 55 years?
>
> Interestingly, the rate has been going down steadily since the advent of SSRI antidepressants (1988).After reviewing the chart further, I don't understand how anyone would try to use it to make an argument that increased antidepressant use is associated with higher rates of violent crimes.
1. Within a few years of the release of Prozac, violent crimes have gone down steadily.
2. The media attention paid to Prozac and depression beginning in 1988 produced a large increase in antidepressant prescriptions. I believe it is at least 400%.
Wouldn't one expect an increase in the rate of violent crimes by 400% if antidepressants were responsible for producing them? Instead, there is a significant reduction. How can this be?
The statistic I haven't seen yet is the proportion of people that take antidepressants who go on to commit suicide or violent crimes. If you line up 100 people who take antidepressants, how many of them will suffer negative behavioral reactions? What if it is only 3*? The media attention paid to those 3 will be greatly exaggerated and make antidepressants seem like prolific killers. Perhaps negative reactions can be screened for more closely by doctors early in treatment. Weekly or biweekly evaluations might be indicated.
* I have no idea what this number really is. Maybe someone can produce this statistic.
More interesting statistics:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db76.htm
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1083163
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150929/msgs/1083205.html