Gender differences in antidepressant use-related seasonality change in suicide mortality in Hungary, 1998-2006.
OBJECTIVE
Studies show that the seasonality of suicide (spring/early summer peak, winter low) is mainly the consequence of the seasonal incidence of depression-related suicides. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between increasing antidepressant utilization and national suicide rate of Hungary between 1998 and 2006, with particular regard to seasonal patterns and gender differences.


METHODS
Time trend analysis (ARIMA) had been applied to investigate the correlation between the trend of antidepressant prescription and both of suicide rates and seasonality index.


RESULTS
During the 9 years of the study period there was a significant (P<0.001) correlation between the steadily increasing antidepressant prescription (113%) and continuous decline in total national suicide rate (23%) as well as both in females and males (21 and 23%, respectively), but this relationship was 8-fold stronger in males. Increasing antidepressant utilization was associated with significantly decreased seasonality of suicides only among males.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that decreasing seasonality of suicides could be a good marker of lowering rate of depression-related suicides in the population particularly among males.
Sebestyen
Beata
B
National Center for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, Budapest, Hungary.
Rihmer
Zoltan
Z
Balint
Lajos
L
Szokontor
Nora
N
Gonda
Xenia
X
Gyarmati
Bela
B
Bodecs
Tamas
T
Sandor
Janos
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D000928:Antidepressive Agents