Which factor increases the risk of antidepressant-induced suicide in younger patients?

Starting a new medication is of particular significance when considering the risk of antidepressant-induced suicide in younger patients. This phenomenon is primarily attributed to the initial phase of treatment with antidepressants, during which patients may experience a paradoxical increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

In younger individuals, the brain is still developing, and the introduction of a new antidepressant can lead to unpredictable reactions. While the medication may eventually help alleviate depressive symptoms, the time frame during which it begins to exert its effects may correspond with an increased risk of agitation or worsening of depressive symptoms. This is particularly evident in individuals under the age of 25, who have shown higher rates of suicidal ideation during the early weeks of treatment before the full therapeutic effect is achieved.

Infrequent therapy sessions, prior history of depression, and current life stressors can contribute to overall risk factors for suicide but don't directly correlate in the same way with the onset of medication as the introduction of a new antidepressant does. The risk associated with starting a new medication emphasizes the need for close monitoring during the initial weeks of treatment in younger patients to help mitigate this potentially serious risk.