Trends in calls to a state poisons centre and presentation to emergency departments for intentional antidepressant overdose in Victoria, Australia.

This article examines trends in intentional antidepressant overdose in Victoria, Australia, from 2009 to 2018 by analyzing emergency department (ED) presentations and calls to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre (VPIC). While overall ED presentation rates for antidepressant overdose remained stable, significant increases were observed among younger age groups (10–19 years), with annual rises of 13.1% and 7.2% per 100,000 persons in the 10–14 and 15–19 age groups, respectively. Calls to the VPIC increased overall by 6.7% annually per 100,000 persons, with the largest rise in children under 15 years. The study also noted a shift in overdose substances from tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are associated with lower hospital admission rates. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address intentional antidepressant overdose, particularly among younger populations.