Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Lambert, G. Articles by Esler, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Lambert, G. Articles by Esler, M. Depression Suicide

Increased Suicide Rate in the Middle-Aged and Its Association With Hours of Sunlight

OBJECTIVE: Aside from diminished daily functional capacity, individuals with depression are at greatly higher risk of suicide. Given that both endogenous depression severity and the incidence of suicide peak during the spring and summer months, it would seem that an environmental cue—one that generates alterations in brain neuronal activity that result in depressed affect or suicidal ideation—might be important. METHOD: The authors examined the frequency of suicide and its relation to meteorological factors in the state of Victoria between January 1990 and April 1999. RESULTS: The incidence of suicide had its nadir in winter and zenith in the spring and summer and paralleled closely the number of bright sunlight hours. This pattern was particularly marked for violent suicide. During the decade, the suicide rate significantly increased among men between 21 and 60 years of age and women between 41 and 60. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of suicide in southeastern Australia displays a clear seasonal pattern, being positively linked with prevailing levels of sunlight. The rate of suicide increased in the latter half of the last decade.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Ajdacic-Gross, C. Lauber, R. Sansossio, M. Bopp, D. Eich, M. Gostynski, F. Gutzwiller, and W. Rossler Seasonal Associations between Weather Conditions and Suicide--Evidence against a Classic Hypothesis Am. J. Epidemiol., March 1, 2007; 165(5): 561 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Arehart-Treichel Long, Sunny Days Linked To Suicide Incidence Psychiatr News, June 20, 2003; 38(12): 26 - 26. [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2003 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us