Caution: Benzodiazepines and Suicide Risk

Prescribing benzodiazepines for patients experiencing acute distress may carry an increased risk of suicide, particularly due to potential disinhibition. Although studies indicate that patients needing benzodiazepines generally have a higher suicide risk based on their conditions, a study from France sought to clarify this relationship by comparing the involvement of benzodiazepines before a suicidal act with periods before the recommendation of such medication. The results suggest that additional factors leading to increased suicide risk should be more prevalent in the month preceding a suicidal event rather than during the months prior.