Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Osteoporosis: Pathomechanism and Clinical Relevance Remain to Be Established

In the Editorial to the study “Use of Antidepressants and Rates of Hip Bone Loss in Older Women,”¹ Saag² claims that the possible causal negative effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on hip bone mineral density should lead to a reevaluation and comparison of the risk-benefit ratio of SSRIs against first-generation antidepressants as well as alternative approaches such as newer drugs, psychotherapy, and even electroconvulsive therapy.