Does the treatment of dyslipidemia affect the risk of depression or suicidal behaviour?
David N. Juurlink Division of General Internal Medicine Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Sciences Centre Toronto, Ont. Yang CC, Jick SS, Jick H. Lipid-lowering drugs and the risk of depression and suicidal behaviour. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:1926-32. Background: Whether a low or lowered serum cholesterol level is associated with harm has been the subject of debate for 2 decades, ever since the unexpected finding of an increased risk of noncardiovascular mortality in early trials of lipid-lowering therapy.1 Subsequent research has generated conflicting evidence regarding the relation between cholesterol and violent behaviour, mental illness and injury, with positive studies imputing alterations in central serotoninergic activity as a potential underlying mechanism.2 Design: This nested case control study examined the computerized health records of about 3 million people from 1991 to 1999. Researchers identified 3 groups: patients who received at least 1 prescription for a lipid-lowering dr
