Violence link to medication rejected by psychiatrist

THE DECISION by the professional body for psychiatry not to comment on evidence at the recent Shane Clancy inquest has been described as a “disgrace” and “absolutely deplorable” by a senior psychiatrist.

UCC professor of psychiatry Ted Dinan said he was “incensed” that the College of Psychiatry of Ireland (CPscyhI) had not attempted to rebut evidence suggesting that Mr Clancy had killed Sebastian Creane and then himself under the influence of anti-depressants.

Evidence was given at the East Wicklow Coroner’s Court inquest earlier this month by Prof David Healy from the University of Cardiff who said that in a small number of cases anti-depressants can cause people to become potentially homicidal or suicidal.

Mr Clancy’s mother, Leonie Fennell, told the inquest that anti-depressants had made her son’s depression worse and had caused him to kill Mr Creane and then himself in Bray last August. She warned other families of the danger of such drugs.

The CPscyhI was refused permission by the coroner, Dr Cathal Louth, to respond to Dr Healy’s evidence. Afterwards, the well-known psychiatrist Prof Patricia Casey, who attended the inquest, expressed disappointment on behalf of the college, but said it would be responding within 36 hours.

However, a statement issued the following day from CPscyhI said it would not be appropriate to comment because of the sensitivities of the case and the pending inquest into the death of Mr Creane.

Prof Dinan said the reasons cited by the college should not have deterred it from making a statement.

“What relevance does that have? Somebody has made a claim and it has been on the front pages of the tabloid newspapers that anti-depressants can cause homicide and suicide, and the College of Psychiatrists can’t even make a statement reassuring the large number of patients who are on anti-depressants. They really need to get a grip on the situation.”

Prof Dinan said he could say with “100 per cent certainty and without any fear of contradiction” that modern anti-depressants such as the drug Citalopram (sold as Cipramil) which Mr Clancy took do not cause people to commit murder. He added that there was no evidence either that the drugs cause patients to take their own lives.

The UCC professor, who is a former head of psychiatry at Bart’s Hospital in London and is now in public practice, said he felt compelled to speak out because of the reluctance of the college to do so.

“I avoid publicity, but I’m incensed by this. It is terrible for patients. I think the college’s attitude or failure to make a statement is deplorable.”

A CPscyhI spokeswoman said the proper forum for commenting was the inquest and that the college might comment in another formal setting about anti-depressants.

She added that the college was not the regulatory body for medicines and it was guided in that regard by the advice of the Irish Medicines Board.