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. 2009 Oct;68(4):618–629. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2009.03481.x

Table 2.

Changes in prescribing in the UK and self-poisoning in three centres in England in 12–19-year-olds, 2000–2006, associated with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) warning in December 2003

Estimation of the absolute effect during 2004–2006 of the MHRA warning*
Mean quarterly estimated number with the MHRA warning Mean quarterly estimated number without the MHRA warning Conservative mean quarterly estimated number without the MHRA warning Mean quarterly change during 2004–2006 (95% CIs) Conservative mean quarterly change during 2004–2006§(95% CIs)
Prescription rate (per 100 000)
SSRIs** 508.925 1203.893 1033.156 −695 (−602, −788) −524 (−461, −588)
Fluoxetine 509.920 739.366 634.854 −230 (−125, −334) −125 (−56, −193)
Tricyclics 296.283 431.473 407.056 −135 (−18, −252) −111 (−38, −183)
Percent of all self-poisoning episodes using specific drugs
SSRIs** 5.2 9.7 9.2 −4.5 (−1.5, −7.5) −4.0 (−1.9, −6.1)
Fluoxetine 6.4 4.9 NA 1.5 (−1.2, 4.2) NA
Tricyclics 2.4 1.6 NA 0.8 (−1.1, 2.6) NA
Percent of all self-harm episodes using self-poisoning
All drugs and other substances 83.3 83.0 NA 0.3 (−3.9, 4.5) NA
*

Using Interrupted Time Series Segmented Regression Analysis [21].

Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) warning in December 2003 not to prescribe SSRI antidepressants except fluoxetine to under-18-year-olds.

Difference between column 2 and column 3. See Appendix B for calculation, method ‘a’ using Equation A4.

§

Difference between column 2 and column 4. See Appendix B for calculation, method ‘b’ using Equation A6.

95% Confidence intervals (CI) calculated according to Zhang et al. [28].

**

SSRIs except fluoxetine. NA, not applicable where trend is decreasing in pre-warning period.