Can antidepressants cause a small increased risk of violence in some people? For a small percentage of people taking Paxil (paroxetine), the answer appears to be “yes.” But the risk remains very rare.

According to a paper published today in PLoS-Medicine, there is an increased risk of “hostile” episodes while taking Paxil. The overall risk, however, remains infinitesimally small and these episodes are characterized as rare.

The researchers also had no information as to what actually may cause the increase in “hostile” episodes. Many antidepressants give people increased energy levels (while placebos do not). Such an increase in energy levels may be the actual cause in the rise of “hostile” episodes, not the drug itself.

None of this stopped at least one news organization (Reuters) from spinning the results. They only mentioned that the overall risk remains rare in the third-to-last paragraph, and instead used the opportunity to link antidepressants to an increased risk of suicide (without putting that finding into any context either). Way to go, Reuters.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 12 Sep 2006
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