Re-examination of the seasonality of suicide in Taiwan during 1991-2008: a population-based study.
The purpose of the present study was to re-examine the monthly distribution of suicide death rates and the change of the suicide seasonality in Taiwan during 1991-2008. The monthly suicide death rates of the total, male and female populations during January 1991-December 2008 were obtained from a population-based database. There was an upward trend. The means of the monthly suicide rates after adjusting the calendar effect and the upward trend were compared. The suicide data were further analysed in three 6-year periods to explore the change of seasonality. During 1991-2008 in Taiwan, suicide rates had significant peaks in April and May, and nadirs in January and December. The monthly distributions varied during 1991-1996, 1997-2002 and 2003-2008 in the patterns and the statistical significance. There was no linear trend for the change of the seasonality of suicide death rate.
Tsai
Jui-Feng
JF
Department of Psychiatry, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taichung Branch, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. jftsai0929@yahoo.com.tw
Cho
Wenchun
W
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018672:Community Health Planning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology