Citation

Bradvik L, Berglund M. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2002; 106(4): 299-302.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.02234.x

PMID

12225497

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seasonal distribution of suicide in alcohol dependence and to make a comparison with unnatural death in alcoholism and suicide in other diagnostic groups.
METHOD: Multiaxial ratings of all patients admitted to the Department of Psychiatry in Lund enabled the selection of patients with alcohol dependence (n=1312) during 1949-1969. When followed up to 1997 a total of 102 (99 men) alcoholic patients had taken their own life. Reference groups were patients with severe depression and autopsy cases with other diagnoses.
RESULTS: The alcoholic patients showed a peak during the second quarter of the year (34%, P < 0.05). Other diagnostic groups of suicide and unnatural death in alcoholism did not show any overrepresentation in the spring.
CONCLUSION: Male alcoholics showed a spring peak of suicide as opposed to other diagnostic groups.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Alcoholism; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Seasons; Sex Distribution; Suicide; Sweden