Original contribution
Climatic and diurnal variation in suicide attempts in the ED

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between climatic factors and suicidal behavior. A total of 1,119 suicide attempts were collected from hospital records between 1996 and 2001. A clear seasonal variation was seen in suicide attempts in the 15–24, 25–34, and over 65 age groups in men and in the 15–24, 25–34, and 35–44 age groups in women with peaks in the spring and summer. Suicide attempts were more frequent between the hours of 6:00–9:00 pm in males and 3:00–6:00 pm in females. People attempting suicide who have depression, anxiety, or a psychotic disorder usually attempt suicide in the summer. Whereas the monthly averages of humidity, ambient temperature, duration and intensity of sunlight were positively correlated with the number of monthly suicide attempts, cloudiness and atmospheric pressure were negatively correlated. In conclusion, we must keep in mind that suicides and suicide attempts are not only the effect of climatic changes and that the most important component is the individual’s ability to deal with conflicts.

Section snippets

Methods

The data were obtained retrospectively from the folders of patients who were admitted to Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital ED between January 1996 and December 2001. For each case admitted to the ED a special file, which would be archived in the hospital, was prepared. The file included admission time, date, gender, age, vital signs, medications administered on admission to the ED, type and time of suicidal attempt, and the name and dose of the drug if the method of suicide attempt was drugs.

Results

A total of 317(28.3%) male and 802 (71.7%) female hospital admissions for suicide attempts were identified at the ED of the Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital between January 1996 and December 2001, with an age range of 10 to 89 years. The mean ages were 28.1 ± 13.8 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 23.5 ± 9.3 years in males and females, respectively. The suicide attempts were most common in the 15–24 age group in both males and females (61.3% in males and 58.2% in females). Whereas females

Discussion

In this study, females attempting suicide outnumbered males by 2.5 to 1. Breuer et al1 and Chiu12 reported similar results.

Suicide attempts were most common in the 15–24 age group both in males and females (61.3% in males and 58.2% in females). Data from cross-sectional studies consistently demonstrate that point and period prevalence rates of attempted suicide are higher in younger than older age groups.32, 33, 34, 35 Breuer et al1 and Chiu12 reported that suicide attempts showed a peak

Conclusion

Although we found a seasonal and diurnal variation in suicide attempts in age groups, methods, and psychiatric diagnosis and a positive/negative correlation between suicide attempts and some meteorologic parameters, the analysis we used is based on a statistical comparison between observed and expected frequencies of suicide attempts. Therefore, causal relationships naturally cannot be verified by this method. We must keep in mind that suicides and suicide attempts are not only the effect of

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