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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 HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES 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;

behavioral health providers with extensive experience in

children's behavioral health; and other health care and health

policy experts to review available data and consult national

experts to review relevant regulatory and statutory issues

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related to a potential correlation between antidepressant

drugs and suicidal thoughts and behaviors and to recommend

policy solutions specific to New Mexico 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.