Seasonal patterns of suicides over the period of socio-economic transition in Lithuania.
BACKGROUND
In Lithuania, suicides are a grave public health problem, requiring more extensive investigation. The aim of the study was to assess the seasonal variations of suicides in Lithuania throughout the years 1993-2002, describing patterns by gender, age and method of suicide.


METHODS
The study material consisted of all registered suicides (n = 16,147) committed throughout 1993-2002 in Lithuania. Smoothed trends were inspected. The seasonal effect was explored using monthly ratio statistics and spectral analysis.


RESULTS
Suicides in Lithuania have a distinct annual rhythm with peaks in summer and troughs in December. The December frequencies fell by more than 23% in men and 30% in women, while June peak reached nearly 23% in men and July peak exceeded 29% in women, compare with the average levels, (p < 0.05). Hanging was the most common method of suicide both in men and women comprising up to 90% among all suicides in 1998-2002. Among different methods, only hanging suicides showed significant seasonal variations, especially in men. The seasonal amplitude has decreased over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantial seasonal variations in suicides were associated with a high proportion of hanging. Extremely high suicide rates in Lithuania require further extensive studies and urgent preventive programs, taking into account the suggestions of this survey.
Kalediene
Ramune
R
Department of Social Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, A. Mickeviciaus St 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania. kaleda@kaunas.omnitel.net
Starkuviene
Skirmante
S
Petrauskiene
Jadvyga
J
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*