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Seasonal and circadian rhythms in suicide in Cagliari, Italy.
J Affect Disord. 1999 Apr; 53(1):77-85.JA

Abstract

BACKGROUND

In previous studies of the seasonality of suicide, peaks have often been found in the number of suicides in the spring and early summer in both northern and southern hemispheres. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the distribution of suicide as to month, seasons, day of the week, and time of the day.

METHOD

Data on suicides in Cagliari (Italy) in the period 1990-1994 were analyzed by means of spectral analysis, cosinor and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

Two seasonal rhythms, i.e. an annual and a semiannual rhythm, accounted for 25% of the variation in the total number of suicides. The peak number of suicides occurred in February with a second less significant peak in June and July. Lows were found in November and December. There were no significant differences in number of suicides in relation to days of the week. Three rhythms, i.e. 24 hours (circadian), 8 hours and 1 hour, explained 63.9% of the variance in the number of suicides by time of the day. Peak numbers in number of suicides were found between 08:31 and 12:30h, while the number of suicides was also significantly higher between 12:31h and 20:30h than between 20.31h and 8.30h. Age and gender did not significantly affect the seasonal and circadian rhythms in suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that there is a significantly seasonal variation and a highly significant variation by time of the day in suicide in Cagliari, Italy.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors+Show Affiliations

Altamura C
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Italy.
VanGastel A
No affiliation info available
Pioli R
No affiliation info available
Mannu P
No affiliation info available
Maes M
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAgedCircadian RhythmFemaleHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSeasonsSex DistributionSuicide

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

10363669

Citation

Altamura, C, et al. "Seasonal and Circadian Rhythms in Suicide in Cagliari, Italy." Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 53, no. 1, 1999, pp. 77-85.
Altamura C, VanGastel A, Pioli R, et al. Seasonal and circadian rhythms in suicide in Cagliari, Italy. J Affect Disord. 1999;53(1):77-85.
Altamura, C., VanGastel, A., Pioli, R., Mannu, P., & Maes, M. (1999). Seasonal and circadian rhythms in suicide in Cagliari, Italy. Journal of Affective Disorders, 53(1), 77-85.
Altamura C, et al. Seasonal and Circadian Rhythms in Suicide in Cagliari, Italy. J Affect Disord. 1999;53(1):77-85. PubMed PMID: 10363669.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Seasonal and circadian rhythms in suicide in Cagliari, Italy. AU - Altamura,C, AU - VanGastel,A, AU - Pioli,R, AU - Mannu,P, AU - Maes,M, PY - 1999/6/11/pubmed PY - 1999/6/11/medline PY - 1999/6/11/entrez SP - 77 EP - 85 JF - Journal of affective disorders JO - J Affect Disord VL - 53 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: In previous studies of the seasonality of suicide, peaks have often been found in the number of suicides in the spring and early summer in both northern and southern hemispheres. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the distribution of suicide as to month, seasons, day of the week, and time of the day. METHOD: Data on suicides in Cagliari (Italy) in the period 1990-1994 were analyzed by means of spectral analysis, cosinor and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Two seasonal rhythms, i.e. an annual and a semiannual rhythm, accounted for 25% of the variation in the total number of suicides. The peak number of suicides occurred in February with a second less significant peak in June and July. Lows were found in November and December. There were no significant differences in number of suicides in relation to days of the week. Three rhythms, i.e. 24 hours (circadian), 8 hours and 1 hour, explained 63.9% of the variance in the number of suicides by time of the day. Peak numbers in number of suicides were found between 08:31 and 12:30h, while the number of suicides was also significantly higher between 12:31h and 20:30h than between 20.31h and 8.30h. Age and gender did not significantly affect the seasonal and circadian rhythms in suicide. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that there is a significantly seasonal variation and a highly significant variation by time of the day in suicide in Cagliari, Italy. SN - 0165-0327 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/10363669/Seasonal_and_circadian_rhythms_in_suicide_in_Cagliari_Italy_ L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165032798000998 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -