Seasonal distribution of suicide in alcoholism.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Male alcoholics showed a spring peak of suicide as opposed to other diagnostic groups.
Brådvik
Louise
L
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Lund University Hospital, Lund Sweden.
Berglund
Mats
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology