E A Deisenhammer1. 1. Department of General Psychiatry, University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. eberhard.deisenhammer@uibk.ac.at
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the available literature on the association between daily and longer-term weather data and the incidence of attempted and completed suicide. METHOD: A computerized search supplemented by a cross-check of the references sections of the thereby identified papers was performed. RESULTS: A total of 27 studies looking for a relationship between attempted or completed suicide and weather or climate data were found. Most of the papers reported a statistical association of suicidal acts with at least one weather factor. However, the results are not conclusive and in part contradictory. CONCLUSION: Possibly due to the high variance in methodological approaches of the studies it is not possible to identify a specific weather condition associated with a generally higher risk for suicide. Weather and seasonal effects may interact with each other. Environmental effects on brain function and weather-related interactions of people may be involved in the occurrence of suicidal behaviour.
OBJECTIVE: To review the available literature on the association between daily and longer-term weather data and the incidence of attempted and completed suicide. METHOD: A computerized search supplemented by a cross-check of the references sections of the thereby identified papers was performed. RESULTS: A total of 27 studies looking for a relationship between attempted or completed suicide and weather or climate data were found. Most of the papers reported a statistical association of suicidal acts with at least one weather factor. However, the results are not conclusive and in part contradictory. CONCLUSION: Possibly due to the high variance in methodological approaches of the studies it is not possible to identify a specific weather condition associated with a generally higher risk for suicide. Weather and seasonal effects may interact with each other. Environmental effects on brain function and weather-related interactions of people may be involved in the occurrence of suicidal behaviour.
Authors: Simone De Jong; Marjolein Neeleman; Jurjen J Luykx; Maarten J ten Berg; Eric Strengman; Hanneke H Den Breeijen; Leon C Stijvers; Jacobine E Buizer-Voskamp; Steven C Bakker; René S Kahn; Steve Horvath; Wouter W Van Solinge; Roel A Ophoff Journal: Hum Mol Genet Date: 2014-01-07 Impact factor: 6.150