Death takes a raincheck.
OBJECTIVE
To review the research literature on temporal variation in mortality rates around symbolically important occasions.


METHODS
Qualitative literature review.


RESULTS
Since the early 1970s, at least 18 studies have investigated whether death rates increase or decrease before, during, or after symbolically important occasions such as holidays and birthdays. Some studies but not others have found modest evidence of temporal effects. Methodological issues have raised questions about most of the positive findings. None of the studies provides any direct evidence that a psychophysiological mechanism enables people to postpone or hasten their own death.


CONCLUSIONS
Research over the past 3 decades has failed to provide convincing evidence that psychological phenomena such as "giving up" or "holding on" can influence the timing of death.
Skala
Judith A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. skalaj@bmc.wustl.edu
Freedland
Kenneth E
KE
D000368:Aged; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001293:Attitude to Death; D006693:Holidays / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D010507:Periodicity; D011603:Psychophysiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014836:Volition