Taking common anti-depressants is linked to violent crimes in the young

COMMON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS have been linked to an increased risk of young people committing violent crimes.

A study found that taking the drugs, known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs,) raised the likelihood of someone aged 15 to 24 being convicted for an act of violence by 43 per cent.

No significant association was seen between SSRI use and violent crime in people aged 25 and older.

Previous research has found that children and young adults, but not older individuals, may be more prone to suicidal thoughts when taking the anti-depressants. A number of legal cases have linked the drugs with violent behaviour, but until now research evidence has been inconclusive.

Scientists conducting the new study used data from Swedish drug prescription and crime registries to compare conviction rates of around 850,000 individuals when they were on and off SSRI medication over a four-year period.

The findings, published in the online journal Public Library of Science Medicine, showed that, overall, taking SSRIs increased the likelihood of a violent conviction by 19 per cent.

When different age groups were analysed separately, the study found a 43 per cent raised risk for people aged 15 to 24 .

Violent crimes included attempted or actual murders or acts of manslaughter, unlawful threats, harassment, robbery, arson, assault, kidnapping, stalking, coercion and all sexual offences.