title: Geomagnetic storms: association with incidence of depression as measured by hospital admission.
abstract: The hypothesis that geomagnetic storms may partly account for the seasonal variation in the incidence of depression, by acting as a precipitant of depressive illness in susceptible individuals, is supported by a statistically significant 36.2% increase in male hospital admissions with a diagnosis of depressed phase, manic-depressive illness in the second week following such storms compared with geomagnetically quiet control periods. There is a smaller but not statistically significant increase in female psychotic depression and non-psychotic depression admissions following storms. There was no correlation between geomagnetic storm levels and number of male admissions with psychotic depression, which is consistent with a threshold event affecting predisposed individuals. Phase advance in pineal circadian rhythms of melatonin synthesis may be a possible mechanism of causation or be present as a consequence of 5-hydroxytryptamine and adrenergic system dysfunction associated with geomagnetic disturbance. Effects on cell membrane permeability, calcium channel activity and retinal magneto-receptors are suggested as possible underlying biochemical mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Westbank Clinic, Falkirk, Stirlingshire.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology; D010789:Phototherapy; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin