Eberhard A Deisenhammer1,2, Christoph Stiglbauer3, Georg Kemmler3. 1. Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie 1, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich. eberhard.deisenhammer@i-med.ac.at. 2. Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie 2, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich. eberhard.deisenhammer@i-med.ac.at. 3. Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie 1, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Suicides are generally the consequence of overchallenged coping strategies of individual for psychological, social or internal and external biological strain factors. Timing of the suicide, too, may be influenced by external factors. Studies so far have yielded in part inconsistent results concerning the association of suicides with particular days or periods of the year. Even less is known regarding a potential effect of the time of birth on suicide risk. METHODS: The Tyrol Suicide Register (TSR) provides data on suicides occurring in the Austrian State of Tyrol including birthday of the suicide victim and day of the suicide. In the present study the frequency of suicides was analyzed with regard to birthday, day of the week, major holidays and season over a period of 17 years. Further, a potential association with month of birth and zodiac signs was studied. RESULTS: We found a significant variation in suicide frequency concerning day of the week with a peak on Mondays and Tuesdays and seasonality with increased numbers in spring and summer months. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of suicide numbers at the beginning of the week may be explained by the "broken-promise effect" which has been described as the consequence of frustrated expectations concerning the weekend. Possible explanations for the suicide peaks in spring and summer may be biological, specifically serotonergic alterations as well as the experience of depressed patients perceiving the social and emotional contrast to people who are able to enjoy these periods of pleasure and outdoor activities.
BACKGROUND: Suicides are generally the consequence of overchallenged coping strategies of individual for psychological, social or internal and external biological strain factors. Timing of the suicide, too, may be influenced by external factors. Studies so far have yielded in part inconsistent results concerning the association of suicides with particular days or periods of the year. Even less is known regarding a potential effect of the time of birth on suicide risk. METHODS: The Tyrol Suicide Register (TSR) provides data on suicides occurring in the Austrian State of Tyrol including birthday of the suicide victim and day of the suicide. In the present study the frequency of suicides was analyzed with regard to birthday, day of the week, major holidays and season over a period of 17 years. Further, a potential association with month of birth and zodiac signs was studied. RESULTS: We found a significant variation in suicide frequency concerning day of the week with a peak on Mondays and Tuesdays and seasonality with increased numbers in spring and summer months. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of suicide numbers at the beginning of the week may be explained by the "broken-promise effect" which has been described as the consequence of frustrated expectations concerning the weekend. Possible explanations for the suicide peaks in spring and summer may be biological, specifically serotonergic alterations as well as the experience of depressedpatients perceiving the social and emotional contrast to people who are able to enjoy these periods of pleasure and outdoor activities.
Authors: Andrew Stickley; Chris Fook Sheng Ng; Yosuke Inoue; Aki Yazawa; Ai Koyanagi; Manami Kodaka; Jordan E DeVylder; Chiho Watanabe Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2016-04-21 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Daniel Gomes Coimbra; Aline Cristine Pereira E Silva; Célio Fernando de Sousa-Rodrigues; Fabiano Timbó Barbosa; Diego de Siqueira Figueredo; José Luiz Araújo Santos; Mayara Rodrigues Barbosa; Veronica de Medeiros Alves; Antonio Egidio Nardi; Tiago Gomes de Andrade Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2016-02-17 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: D Wasserman; Z Rihmer; D Rujescu; M Sarchiapone; M Sokolowski; D Titelman; G Zalsman; Z Zemishlany; V Carli Journal: Eur Psychiatry Date: 2011-12-01 Impact factor: 5.361
Authors: Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross; Christoph Lauber; Matthias Bopp; Dominique Eich; Michael Gostynski; Felix Gutzwiller; Tom Burns; Wulf Rössler Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2007-10-31 Impact factor: 3.222