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A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION
CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY POSSIBLE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN
ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS AND TO
RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS ANY CORRELATION.
WHEREAS, the federal food and drug administration issued
a public warning in October 2004 about an increased risk of
suicidal thoughts or behaviors in children and adolescents
treated with a class of antidepressant medications called
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, an advisory committee to the federal
food and drug administration recommended that the federal
food and drug administration issue a public warning about an
increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in young
adults up to the age of twenty-five who are taking selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors; and
WHEREAS, in September 2007, a study, published in the
American Journal of Psychiatry, found that there is not a
positive correlation between antidepressants and suicidal
thoughts or behaviors in young people; and
WHEREAS, studies and professional organizations disagree
as to whether the prescription of antidepressant medications
should be further regulated or further protocols developed to
guard against suicidal thoughts or behaviors among young
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people; and
WHEREAS, according to the treatment for adolescents with
depression study, funded by the national institute of mental
health, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the
most effective treatment for adolescents with depression; and
WHEREAS, the federal food and drug administration has
issued guidelines stating that individuals who take
antidepressants must be carefully monitored for worsening
depression, suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviors; and
WHEREAS, on the basis that some physicians are
inadequately monitoring or are unaware of the risks that
antidepressants may pose for young people, the state of
California has considered legislation that would require all
family practice physicians who treat depression by
prescribing antidepressants to undergo mandatory continuing
medical education on the subject of antidepressant
medications;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico health policy
commission be requested to convene a task force comprising
experts from the human services department and the department
of health; medical and behavioral health providers; and other
health care and health policy experts to investigate whether
there is a correlation between antidepressant drugs and
suicidal thoughts and behaviors and to recommend policy
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solutions to address the correlation, if it exists; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested
to examine whether providers who prescribe antidepressants
should be required to undergo mandatory continuing medical
education on the subject of antidepressant medications in
order to provide expertise in monitoring the risks that may
be associated with antidepressants in young people; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to the New Mexico health policy commission.