http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRI-Crusaders/message/34217
My letter to the editor on this case:
Patrick Rocca DID NOT Commit Suicide
Patrick Rocca did not get a chance to become the first to fall victim to the recent financial turmoil because an antidepressant ended his life before the financial turmoil could. After specializing in antidepressant adverse reactions for two decades I respectfully challenge the verdict of the Dublin County Coroner in the death of Mr. Rocca.
As an expert witness to antidepressant adverse reactions I would have ruled that Mr. Rocca died as a result of an antidepressant-induced REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) in which 80% of the patients hurt themselves or someone else. The involvement of an antidepressant in these disorders is extremely high - of those being diagnosed with RBD in the US 86% are taking an antidepressant.
This is the same adverse reaction comedian Phil Hartman's wife suffered which cost both her life and his a decade ago. You are not conscious in RBD and therefore, do not have sufficient conscious thought to make the decision to take your life. Instead, what the patient does is act out in a sleepwalk state the nightmare they are having.
Another example of this would be found in the first story related in the movie "The Drugging of Our Children" (www.drugawareness.org) where a young man in in the US in the state of Washington took a gun to school, held his classmates at gunpoint for 45 minutes, and to this day six years later can recall none of it. The last he recalls is going to back to bed that morning because he did not feel well.
Had Patrick Rocca somehow survived his wounds I believe he would relate the same. He may have taken his life, but I do not believe he was aware of what he was doing at that time. It is not right that his family be left with the stigma of suicide when it is not real. Since antidepressant manufacturers have never warned of this adverse reaction "negligent homicide" on their part would be a more accurate conclusion in this case.
Ann Blake-Tracy, PhD, Executive Director,
International Coalition for Drug Awareness
www.drugawareness.org & www.ssristories.com
