Back to Search Start Over

Sildenafil and suicide in Sweden.

Sildenafil and suicide in Sweden.

Authors :
Catalano, Ralph
Goldman-Mellor, Sidra
Bruckner, Tim A.
Hartig, Terry
Source :
European Journal of Epidemiology; May2021, Vol. 36 Issue 5, p531-537, 7p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Much theory asserts that sexual intimacy sustains mental health. Experimental tests of such theory remain rare and have not provided compelling evidence because ethical, practical, and cultural constraints bias samples and results. An epidemiologic approach would, therefore, seem indicated given the rigor the discipline brings to quasi-experimental research. For reasons that remain unclear, however, epidemiologist have largely ignored such theory despite the plausibility of the processes implicated, which engender, for example, happiness, feelings of belonging and self-worth, and protection against depression. We use an intent-to-treat design, implemented via interrupted time-series methods, to test the hypothesis that the monthly incidence of suicide, a societally important distal measure of mental health in a population, decreased among Swedish men aged 50–59 after July 2013 when patent rights to sildenafil (i.e., Viagra) ceased, prices fell, and its use increased dramatically. The test uses 102 pre, and 18 post, price-drop months. 65 fewer suicides than expected occurred among men aged 50–59 over test months following the lowering of sildenafil prices. Our findings could not arise from shared trends or seasonality, biased samples, or reverse causation. Our results would appear by chance fewer than once in 10,000 experiments. Our findings align with theory indicating that sexual intimacy reinforces mental health. Using suicide as our distal measure of mental health further implies that public health programming intended to address the drivers of self-destructive behavior should reduce barriers to intimacy in the middle-aged populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03932990
Volume :
36
Issue :
5
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
European Journal of Epidemiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
150538847
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-021-00738-4