Suicides in the midnight sun -: a study of seasonality in suicides in West Greenland

被引:51
作者
Björkstén, KS
Bjerregaard, P
Kripke, DF
机构
[1] Nacka Hosp, Dept Psychiat, SE-13183 Nacka, Sweden
[2] Ctr Hlth Res Greenland, Natl Inst Publ Hlth, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
[3] Univ Calif San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
关键词
light; serotonin; aggression; impulsiveness; human;
D O I
10.1016/j.psychres.2004.12.002
中图分类号
R749 [精神病学];
学科分类号
100205 ;
摘要
Greenland is the most extreme of human habitats in regard to annual changes in natural light. From being very low, the rate of suicides in Greenland has increased during the past few decades to be among the highest in the world. Several studies have shown seasonality in suicides with spring or summer peaks, but this has not been previously shown in Greenland. Official data from 1968 to 1995 from West Greenland were pooled. A significant seasonality in the 833 suicides was found using Rayleigh's test, a peak in June and a trough in the winter. Suicides increased during the period, and reached high rates in most age groups, up to 577 per 100,000 person-years in men aged 15-24 years in 1990, and up to 147 per 100,000 person-years in women aged 15-24 years in 1995. Violent methods of suicide were used by 93%. Depression has been reported uncommonly. High alcohol intake and extended periods of light in the summer may contribute to impulsive-aggressive summer suicides. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:205 / 213
页数:9
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