title: Is seasonality of suicides stronger in victims with hospital-treated atopic disorders?
abstract: The aim of the present study was to test whether the seasonal distribution of suicides differed between atopic and non-atopic suicide victims. A cross-sectional comparison of the semi-annual and seasonal distribution of suicides was made by using a 13-year database of all suicides (1296 males, 289 females) committed during the years 1988-2000 in the province of Oulu in Northern Finland. During the first half of the year, the proportion of suicides among atopic patients was significantly higher than that linked with non-atopic patients. Of all atopic patients, 72% committed suicide during the first and 28% during the second half of the year. Suicides among victims without any atopic disorders followed a uniform seasonal distribution throughout the year (50 vs. 50%). The exacerbation of an atopic disorder may increase the risk of suicide in spring; something that should be taken note of in clinical work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Oulu, Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Timonen
authors.forename: Kaisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viilo
authors.forename: Helinä
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hakko
authors.forename: Terttu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Särkioja
authors.forename: V Benno
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Meyer-Rochow
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Väisänen
authors.forename: Pirkko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Räsänen
mesh_terms: D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E