Recent research has surprisingly shown that when people are taking folic acid, rates of suicide are reduced by almost half (JAMA Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 1;79(11):1118-1123).
But does it work as well in people at higher risk because of prior suicidal behaviour, psychiatric illness or treatment with psychiatric medication?
A new study has shown that it does. Rates of suicide were reduced just as much in the higher risk group. This study suggests that folic acid reduces the risk of suicide even in people who are at high risk.
(BJPsych Open. 2023 Sep;9(5):e159).