OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have reported seasonal or monthly variation
in suicide. The present study was conducted in order to determine
seasonality and other significant rhythms in violent and nonviolent
suicide, alone and together, and homicide. METHOD: Data on suicide, violent
suicide, nonviolent suicide, and homicide (categorized according to ICD-9)
for all of Belgium for the period 1979-1987 were analyzed by means of
spectral analyses. RESULTS: There was a significant seasonality for suicide
but not homicide. Seasonality was present in violent but not in nonviolent
suicide. The number of violent suicides increased with age and was more
prominent in men. The violent suicide chronograms of younger and elderly
persons were quite distinct in the occurrence of peaks in March-April and
August, respectively, and lows in December-January. There was no
significant relationship between violent suicide and homicide. CONCLUSIONS:
Seasonality in suicide is determined by significant circannual rhythms in
violent suicides, which differ between younger and elderly persons.Abstract Teaser