Behind Kaitlyn's suicide

June 27, 2004

Page 4 of 4 -- It was Feb. 17 when Kaitlyn was sent home. Four days later, she was dead.

The Kennedys plan to ask a forensic psychiatrist to evaluate Kaitlyn's case to see if there are grounds for a lawsuit, Alan Kennedy said. They are still awaiting more information, including the toxicology report on Kaitlyn.

Judith Merel, spokeswoman for Arbour Health System, the parent company of Westwood Lodge, said she could not comment on a patient's case because of confidentiality concerns.

Pfizer, which makes Zoloft, ''cannot comment on individual cases," said spokeswoman Shreya Prudlo.

When Dr. Joseph Glenmullen, a Harvard psychiatrist and prominent critic of manufacturers of antidepressants, was told the basic outlines of Kaitlyn's case, he responded that it was ''very reasonable" for the family ''to ask whether or not the drug played a role" in her death. It is known that patients are particularly vulnerable to suicidal impulses when they have just started on an antidepressant or the dose has just been increased, he said.

Dr. David Fassler, an authority for the American Psychiatric Association on the issue of SSRIs and suicide, responded to a description of Kaitlyn's case by noting that, ''We do not have data which clearly demonstrates an association between SSRI medication and increased risk of suicide." In all the studies of SSRIs that the FDA is reviewing, he said, none of the more than 4,000 children and teens enrolled in the studies actually committed suicide .

One top FDA epidemiologist has reported that the 22 studies, involving seven SSRI-type drugs, indicate that children on the drugs were twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts and feelings as those on a placebo. But the agency has yet to issue an official opionion on the matter.

''Clearly any suicide is a tragedy, and any family is going to look at all possibilities to try to find an explanation," Fassler said. ''And usually there are no simple answers."

The state Department of Mental Health is conducting a fact-finding investigation into Kaitlyn's death because she killed herself so soon after being discharged from a hospital, said Lester Blumberg, the department's chief of staff.

Asked whether it would look into the possible Zoloft connection, Blumberg said it would probably note that Kaitlyn was taking the drug. But ''it would be unlikely to result in corrective action because the Commonwealth and the FDA have not said, 'Don't prescribe it,' " he said.

The last entry in Kaitlyn's journal reads in part:

''2/21 I've done a complete 180. I'm so happy! [Happy face] I weigh 135 now! [another happy face] I hung out with [her new boyfriend] last night [heart symbol] I have therapy today in 45 minutes. . . . I love Chingy [a rap artist]. i need to wash."

She and her new boyfriend watched a movie together that night. Some time after he left, her old boyfriend stopped over. Around 11, she stopped by her parents' bedroom to say goodnight, Kathleen Kennedy recalled.

''Goodnight, Kate, see you in the morning," her mother replied.

Carey Goldberg is reachable at goldberg@globe.com

1 2 3