Psychiatry Research
Volume 120, Issue 1 , Pages 43-51, 30 August 2003

Increasing seasonality of suicide in Australia 1970–1999

  • Daniel Rock

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, Locked Bag No. 1, Claremont, Western Australia, 6910, Australia
    • School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61-8-9347-6405; fax: +61-8-9384-5128
    • ,
  • David M. Greenberg

      Affiliations

    • School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
    • ,
  • Joachim F. Hallmayer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Received 9 September 2002; received in revised form 27 March 2003; accepted 25 May 2003.

Abstract 

Previous studies have found that rates of suicide have a distinct annual rhythm with a peak in spring. Two recent European studies, however, have found that the amplitude of this rhythm has decreased over time. The purpose of this study was to examine whether such effects are found in Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics data on all suicides in Australia 1970–1999 were analysed by spectral analysis. We found that suicide, violent suicide and suicide by males are seasonal and that the seasonal amplitude has increased over time. Males who use violent methods determine the seasonal effect. These results support previous findings that suicide and particularly violent suicide have a characteristic seasonal rhythm. However, the progressive increase in the amplitude of this rhythm over time in Australia is in direct contrast to other European findings. We suggest that this may be related to differences in patterns of anti-depressant use and also the effect of migration on the number of seasonally vulnerable individuals in Australia.

Keywords: Seasons, Periodicity, Impulsive behaviour

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0165-1781(03)00165-3

doi:10.1016/S0165-1781(03)00165-3

Psychiatry Research
Volume 120, Issue 1 , Pages 43-51, 30 August 2003

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution