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1
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Gold SA, Goodrich M, Morley SW, Stephens B, McCarthy JF. Temporal patterns of Veteran suicide: Variation by season, day of the week, and holidays. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2025; 55:e13148. [PMID: 39605251 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.13148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess temporal patterns of Veteran suicide deaths from 2001 to 2021. METHODS Data from Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) administrative sources and the VA/DoD Mortality Data Repository identified 133,867 Veteran suicides from 2001 to 2021. Incidence Rate Ratios (IRRs) and Joinpoint regression assessed patterns of Veteran suicide across seasons, days of the week, and 14 holidays; overall and by sex and age. RESULTS Incidence of Veteran suicide was highest in summers and on Mondays. Veteran suicide incidence was lower on six holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (IRR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.73-0.93), Presidents' Day (IRR = 0.88, 0.78, 0.99), Memorial Day (IRR = 0.89, CI = 0.79-0.99), Labor Day (IRR = 0.88, CI = 0.78-0.98), Thanksgiving (IRR = 0.81, CI = 0.71-0.92), and Christmas (IRR = 0.78, CI = 0.68-0.89). Suicide incidence was elevated on New Year's Day (IRR = 1.17, CI = 1.05-1.31), particularly among Veterans 25-34 years old (IRR = 1.64, CI = 1.19-2.26). An increasing trend in daily average suicides was indicated from December 30th to January 1st (β = 1.79, p < 0.05). Both seasonal and day of the week effects were present in most subpopulations. Holiday effects were most prevalent among men and varied by age. CONCLUSIONS Veteran suicide incidence was elevated in summer months, on Mondays, and on New Year's Day. Temporal patterns differed by sex and age. Findings can inform ongoing Veteran suicide prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Gold
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 2, Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, New York, USA
| | - Molly Goodrich
- VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, Office of Mental Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sybil W Morley
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 2, Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, New York, USA
| | - Brady Stephens
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 2, Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, New York, USA
| | - John F McCarthy
- VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, Office of Mental Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- VA Office of Suicide Prevention, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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2
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Rizavas I, Gournellis R, Douzenis P, Efstathiou V, Bali P, Lagouvardos K, Douzenis A. A Systematic Review on the Impact of Seasonality on Severe Mental Illness Admissions: Does Seasonal Variation Affect Coercion? Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2155. [PMID: 37570395 PMCID: PMC10418389 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11152155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Coercion in psychiatry is associated mainly with involuntary admissions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between hospital admissions of patients suffering from affective and schizophrenic disorders and seasonality. A systematic literature search using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar was conducted, including studies with affective and schizophrenia disorder admissions, published from October 1992 to August 2020. A total of 31 studies were included in the review. Four broad severe mental illness admission categories were identified regarding seasonality: affective disorders, schizophrenia disorders, involuntary admission affective disorders and involuntary admission schizophrenia disorders. There was clear and strong evidence for spring and summer peaks for severe mental illness admissions; data provided for age, gender and involuntary admissions was limited. Seasonality may have a significant effect on the onset and exacerbation of psychopathology of severe mental illness and should be considered as a risk factor in psychiatric admissions, violence and the risk of mental health coercion. A better understanding of the impact of seasonality on severe mental illness will help professionals to provide the best practices in mental health services in order to reduce and prevent psychiatric hospitalizations (especially involuntary admissions) resulting in further coercive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Rizavas
- Psychiatric Hospital of Attica “Dafni”, 12462 Chaidari, Greece;
| | - Rossetos Gournellis
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University General Hospital “Attikon”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Chaidari, Greece; (R.G.); (A.D.)
| | - Phoebe Douzenis
- Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK;
| | - Vasiliki Efstathiou
- Postgraduate Program “Liaison Psychiatry Integrative Care of Physical and Mental Health”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Chaidari, Greece;
| | - Panagiota Bali
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University General Hospital “Attikon”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Chaidari, Greece; (R.G.); (A.D.)
| | - Kostas Lagouvardos
- National Observatory of Athens, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, 15236 Athens, Greece;
| | - Athanasios Douzenis
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University General Hospital “Attikon”, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Chaidari, Greece; (R.G.); (A.D.)
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3
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Sarlon J, Partonen T, Lang UE. Potential links between brown adipose tissue, circadian dysregulation, and suicide risk. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1196029. [PMID: 37360180 PMCID: PMC10288144 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1196029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian desynchronizations are associated with psychiatric disorders as well as with higher suicidal risk. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is important in the regulation of body temperature and contributes to the homeostasis of the metabolic, cardiovascular, skeletal muscle or central nervous system. BAT is under neuronal, hormonal and immune control and secrets batokines: i.e., autocrine, paracrine and endocrine active substances. Moreover, BAT is involved in circadian system. Light, ambient temperature as well as exogen substances interact with BAT. Thus, a dysregulation of BAT can indirectly worsen psychiatric conditions and the risk of suicide, as one of previously suggested explanations for the seasonality of suicide rate. Furthermore, overactivation of BAT is associated with lower body weight and lower level of blood lipids. Reduced body mass index (BMI) or decrease in BMI respectively, as well as lower triglyceride concentrations were found to correlate with higher risk of suicide, however the findings are inconclusive. Hyperactivation or dysregulation of BAT in relation to the circadian system as a possible common factor is discussed. Interestingly, substances with proven efficacy in reducing suicidal risk, like clozapine or lithium, interact with BAT. The effects of clozapine on fat tissue are stronger and might differ qualitatively from other antipsychotics; however, the significance remains unclear. We suggest that BAT is involved in the brain/environment homeostasis and deserves attention from a psychiatric point of view. Better understanding of circadian disruptions and its mechanisms can contribute to personalized diagnostic and therapy as well as better assessment of suicide risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Sarlon
- University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timo Partonen
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Undine E. Lang
- University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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4
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Chakrabarti S, Singh N. Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: A systematic review. World J Psychiatry 2022; 12:1204-1232. [PMID: 36186500 PMCID: PMC9521535 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lifetime psychotic symptoms are present in over half of the patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and can have an adverse effect on its course, outcome, and treatment. However, despite a considerable amount of research, the impact of psychotic symptoms on BD remains unclear, and there are very few systematic reviews on the subject.
AIM To examine the extent of psychotic symptoms in BD and their impact on several aspects of the illness.
METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were followed. An electronic literature search of six English-language databases and a manual search was undertaken to identify published articles on psychotic symptoms in BD from January 1940 to December 2021. Combinations of the relevant Medical Subject Headings terms were used to search for these studies. Articles were selected after a screening phase, followed by a review of the full texts of the articles. Assessment of the methodological quality of the studies and the risk of bias was conducted using standard tools.
RESULTS This systematic review included 339 studies of patients with BD. Lifetime psychosis was found in more than a half to two-thirds of the patients, while current psychosis was found in a little less than half of them. Delusions were more common than hallucinations in all phases of BD. About a third of the patients reported first-rank symptoms or mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms, particularly during manic episodes. Psychotic symptoms were more frequent in bipolar type I compared to bipolar type II disorder and in mania or mixed episodes compared to bipolar depression. Although psychotic symptoms were not more severe in BD, the severity of the illness in psychotic BD was consistently greater. Psychosis was usually associated with poor insight and a higher frequency of agitation, anxiety, and hostility but not with psychiatric comorbidity. Psychosis was consistently linked with increased rates and the duration of hospitalizations, switching among patients with depression, and poorer outcomes with mood-incongruent symptoms. In contrast, psychosis was less likely to be accompanied by a rapid-cycling course, longer illness duration, and heightened suicidal risk. There was no significant impact of psychosis on the other parameters of course and outcome.
CONCLUSION Though psychotic symptoms are very common in BD, they are not always associated with an adverse impact on BD and its course and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subho Chakrabarti
- Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, UT, India
| | - Navdeep Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, UT, India
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5
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Shen YS, Lung SCC, Cui S. Exploring multiple pathways and mediation effects of urban environmental factors for suicide prevention. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 294:118642. [PMID: 34883145 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Public health is threatened by air pollution and high temperature, especially in urban areas and areas impacted by climate change. Well-designed urban forms have co-benefits on promoting human health and mediating atmospheric environment-related threats (e.g., high temperature and air pollution). Previous studies overlooked these mediating effects of urban form on suicide mortality. This study used partial least squares modeling and countywide data in Taiwan to identify the crucial influences and pathways of urban environment, socioeconomic status, and diseases on suicide mortality. The model considered the impact of the characteristics of urban form (i.e., urban development intensity, land mix, and urban sprawl), urban industrial status (i.e., industrial level), urban greening (i.e., green coverage), disease (i.e., important diseases morbidity of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], cerebrovascular disease [CVD], chronic liver disease and cirrhosis [CLDC], nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis [NNSN], malignant tumor [MT]), socioeconomic status (i.e., income level and aging population rate), and the atmospheric environment (i.e., air pollution and high temperature) on suicide mortality. Optimizing land mix and minimizing urban development intensity and urban sprawl have been found to reduce suicide mortality. The mediating effect of urban form on suicide mortality originated from air pollution and high temperature, and mediating air pollution was greater than high temperature. Furthermore, industrial level, important diseases (HIV, CVD, CLDC, NNSN, and MT) morbidity, an aging population rate, air pollution, and high temperature were associated with an increase in suicide mortality, whereas green coverage and income level were associated with a reduction in suicide rates. The findings demonstrate that appropriate urban policy and urban planning may lower suicide mortality, be useful strategies for suicide prevention, and be a foundation for building a healthy city. Moreover, this study provides clarity on the complex relationship of suicide and the urban environment while identifying crucial factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Sheng Shen
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China; Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shih-Chun Candice Lung
- Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Environmental Health, Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shenghui Cui
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China; Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Asimakopoulos LO, Koureta A, Benetou V, Lagiou P, Samoli E. Investigating the association between temperature and hospital admissions for major psychiatric diseases: A study in Greece. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 144:278-284. [PMID: 34710664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Evidence has emerged regarding the role of seasonality and several meteorological parameters on bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression. We investigated the relationship between ambient and apparent temperature and hospital admissions of major psychiatric diseases in a psychiatric clinic of a General Hospital situated in Northern Greece during 2013-19. Temperature data was provided by the National Observatory of Athens and diagnosis for psychotic, schizophrenic, manic and bipolar and unipolar depression were retrieved from medical records. A total of 783 admissions were recorded. Poisson regression models adjusted for time trends were applied to analyze the impact of temperature on monthly admissions. A summer peak was observed for the bipolar disorder, irrespectively of substance/alcohol use status. Seasonality emerged also for psychotic and schizophrenic patients with a through in winter. An increase of 1 °C in either ambient or apparent temperature was associated with an increase 1-2% in the monthly admissions in most outcomes under investigation. Alcohol and drug abuse did not modify this effect. Although our results indicate effects of temperature on psychiatric admissions, they are not consistent across subgroups populations and need to be replicated by other methodologically superior studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lampros Orion Asimakopoulos
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 115 27, Greece; General Hospital of Katerini, Katerini, 60100, Central Macedonia, Greece.
| | - Anastasia Koureta
- General Hospital of Katerini, Katerini, 60100, Central Macedonia, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Benetou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| | - Pagona Lagiou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 115 27, Greece
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7
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Wang CH, Shao SC, Chang KC, Hung MJ, Yang CC, Liao SC. Quantifying the Effects of Climate Factors on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Retrospective Study in Taiwan. Front Public Health 2021; 9:718846. [PMID: 34722435 PMCID: PMC8553011 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.718846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning death worldwide, but associations between CO poisoning and weather remain unclear. Objective: To quantify the influence of climate parameters (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) on the incidence risk of acute CO poisoning in Taiwan. Methods: We used negative binomial mixed models (NBMMs) to evaluate the influence of weather parameters on the incidence risk of acute CO poisoning. Subgroup analyses were conducted, based on the seasonality and the intentionality of acute CO poisoning cases. Results: We identified a total of 622 patients (mean age: 32.9 years old; female: 51%) with acute CO poisoning in the study hospital. Carbon monoxide poisoning was associated with temperature (beta: -0.0973, rate ratio (RR): 0.9073, p < 0.0001) but not with relative humidity (beta: 0.1290, RR: 1.1377, p = 0.0513) or wind speed (beta: -0.4195, RR: 0.6574, p = 0.0806). In the subgroup analyses, temperature was associated with the incidence of intentional CO poisoning (beta: 0.1076, RR: 1.1136, p = 0.0333) in spring and unintentional CO poisoning (beta: -0.1865, RR: 0.8299, p = 0.0184) in winter. Conclusion: Changes in temperature affect the incidence risk for acute CO poisoning, but the impact varies with different seasons and intentionality in Taiwan. Our findings quantify the effects of climate factors and provide fundamental evidence for healthcare providers to develop preventative strategies to reduce acute CO poisoning events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Ho Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chieh Shao
- Department of Pharmacy, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Cheng Chang
- Department of Pharmacy, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Jui Hung
- Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Chang Yang
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Clinical Toxicology & Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Chen Liao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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8
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Temporal patterns of suicide and circulatory system disease-related mortality are inversely correlated in several countries. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:153. [PMID: 33726707 PMCID: PMC7962271 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03159-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly 800,000 suicides occur worldwide annually and suicide rates are increasing faster than population growth. Unfortunately, the pathophysiology of suicide remains poorly understood, which has hindered suicide prevention efforts. However, mechanistic clues may be found by studying effects of seasonality on suicide and other mortality causes. Suicides tend to peak in spring-summer periods and nadir in fall-winter periods while circulatory system disease-related mortality tends to exhibit the opposite temporal trends. This study aimed to determine for the first time whether monthly temporal cross-correlations exist between suicide and circulatory system disease-related mortality at the population level. If so and if common biological factors moderate risks for both mortality types, such factors may be discoverable and utilized to improve suicide prevention. METHODS We conducted time series analyses of monthly mortality data from northern (England and Wales, South Korea, United States) and southern (Australia, Brazil) hemisphere countries during the period 2009-2018 (N = 41.8 million all-cause mortality cases). We used a Poisson regression variant of the standard cosinor model to determine peak months of mortality. We also estimated cross-correlations between monthly mortality counts from suicide and from circulatory system diseases. RESULTS Suicide and circulatory disease-related mortality temporal patterns were negatively correlated in Australia (- 0.32), Brazil (- 0.57), South Korea (- 0.32), and in the United States (- 0.66), but no temporal correlation was discernable in England and Wales. CONCLUSIONS The negative temporal cross-correlations between these mortality types we found in 4 of 5 countries studied suggest that seasonal factors broadly and inversely moderate risks for circulatory disease-related mortality and suicide, but not in all regions, indicating that the effect is not uniform. Since the seasonal factors of temperature and light exert opposite effects on suicide and circulatory disease-related mortality in several countries, we propose that physiologically-adaptive circulatory system responses to heat and light may increase risk for suicide and should be studied to determine whether they affect suicide risk. For example, heat and light increase production and release of the bioactive gas nitric oxide and reduce circulatory system disease by relaxing blood vessel tone, while elevated nitric oxide levels are associated with suicidal behavior, inverse effects that parallel the inverse temporal mortality patterns we detected.
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9
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Fico G, de Toffol M, Anmella G, Sagué-Vilavella M, Dellink A, Verdolini N, Pacchiarotti I, Goikolea JM, Solmi M, Vieta E, Murru A. Clinical correlates of seasonality in bipolar disorder: A specifier that needs specification? Acta Psychiatr Scand 2021; 143:162-171. [PMID: 33140436 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Seasonal pattern (SP) is a bipolar disorder (BD) specifier that indicates a tendency towards affective relapses during specific moments of the year. SP affects 15%-25% of BD patients. In the past, SP was applied only to depressive relapses while, in DSM-5, SP may be applied to both depressive and (hypo)manic episodes. We examined the association between different clinical correlates of BD and SP according to its current definition in a cohort of patients with BD type I (BDI) and II (BDII). METHODS Patients were recruited from a specialized unit and assessed according to the season of relapse and type of episode per season. SP and non-SP patients were compared looking into sociodemographic and clinical correlates. Significant variables at univariate comparisons were included in multivariate logistic regression with SP as the dependent variable. RESULTS 708 patients were enrolled (503 BDI, 205 BDII), and 117 (16.5%) fulfilled DSM-5 criteria for SP. The mean age was 45.3 years (SD = 14.18), and 389 were female (54.9%). The logistic regression model included a significant contribution of BDII (OR = 2.23, CI 1.4-3.55), family history of mood disorder (OR = 1.97, CI 1.29-3.01), undetermined predominant polarity (OR = 0.44, CI 0.28-0.70), and aggressive behavior (OR = 0.42, CI 0.23-0.75). CONCLUSION Our results outline a novel positive association of SP with undetermined predominant polarity, BDII, family history of mood disorder, and with fewer aggressiveness-related symptoms. Seasonality is associated with a biphasic pattern with similar dominance of (hypo)mania and depression and is more frequent in BDII as compared to BDI. Seasonal episodes may be easier to predict, but difficult to prevent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Fico
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco de Toffol
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.,Neurosciences Department, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gerard Anmella
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Sagué-Vilavella
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Annelies Dellink
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.,Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Programme, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Norma Verdolini
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabella Pacchiarotti
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Goikolea
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Solmi
- Neurosciences Department, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Murru
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Dilemma in Parkinson’s Treatment; Levodopa Monotherapy May be the Best Choice. J Clin Neurosci 2020; 79:219-223. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Hinterbuchinger B, König D, Gmeiner A, Listabarth S, Fellinger M, Thenius C, Baumgartner JS, Vyssoki S, Waldhoer T, Vyssoki B, Pruckner N. Seasonality in schizophrenia-An analysis of a nationwide registry with 110,735 hospital admissions. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 63:e55. [PMID: 32389135 PMCID: PMC7355169 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Seasonal patterns in hospitalizations have been observed in various psychiatric disorders, however, it is unclear whether they also exist in schizophrenia. Previous studies found mixed results and those reporting the presence of seasonality differ regarding the characteristics of these patterns. Further, they are inconclusive whether sex is an influencing factor. The aim of this study was therefore to examine if seasonal patterns in hospitalizations can be found in schizophrenia, with special regard to a possible influence of sex, by using a large national dataset. Methods. Data on all hospital admissions within Austria due to schizophrenia (F20.0–F20.6) for the time period of 2003–2016 were included. Age standardized monthly variation of hospitalization for women and men was analyzed and the level of significance adjusted for multiple testing. Results. The database comprised of 110,735 admissions (59.6% men). Significant seasonal variations were found in the total sample with hospitalization peaks in January and June and a trough in December (p < 0.0001). No significant difference in these patterns was found between women and men with schizophrenia (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. Our study shows that schizophrenia-related hospitalizations follow a seasonal pattern in both men and women. The distribution of peaks might be influenced by photoperiod changes which trigger worsening of symptoms and lead to exacerbations in schizophrenia. Further research is necessary to identify underlying factors influencing seasonal patterns and to assess whether a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia is especially vulnerable to the impact of seasonal variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Hinterbuchinger
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - D König
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Gmeiner
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Listabarth
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Fellinger
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - C Thenius
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - J S Baumgartner
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Vyssoki
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, St. Pölten, Austria
| | - T Waldhoer
- Center for Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - B Vyssoki
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - N Pruckner
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Di Nicola M, Mazza M, Panaccione I, Moccia L, Giuseppin G, Marano G, Grandinetti P, Camardese G, De Berardis D, Pompili M, Janiri L. Sensitivity to Climate and Weather Changes in Euthymic Bipolar Subjects: Association With Suicide Attempts. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:95. [PMID: 32194448 PMCID: PMC7066072 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate and weather are known to affect multiple areas of human life, including mental health. In bipolar disorder (BD), seasonality represents an environmental trigger for mood switches, and climatic variables may contribute to recurrences. Several studies reported seasonal and climatic-related variations in the rate of suicide attempts. Suicide risk is relevant in BD, with approximately 25% of patients attempting suicide. Therefore, this study aimed to assess sensitivity to weather and climatic variations in BD subjects and its relationship with lifetime suicide attempts. METHODS Three hundred fifty-two euthymic BD and 352 healthy control subjects, homogeneous with respect to socio-demographic characteristics, were enrolled. All participants were administered the METEO-Questionnaire (METEO-Q) to evaluate susceptibility to weather and climatic changes. We also investigated the potential relationship between sensitivity to climate and weather and lifetime suicide attempts in BD patients. RESULTS METEO-Q scores and the number of subjects reaching the cut-off for meteorosensitivity/meteoropathy were significantly higher in BD patients. Within the clinical group, BD subjects with lifetime suicide attempts obtained higher METEO-Q scores, with no differences between BD-I and BD-II. The number of suicide attempts directly correlated with METEO-Q scores. The presence of suicide attempts was associated with the physical and psychological symptoms related to weather variations. DISCUSSION Our findings support the relevance of sensitivity to weather and climate variations in a large sample of BD subjects and point out the association of this feature with lifetime suicide attempts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Di Nicola
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Mazza
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Moccia
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Giuseppin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Marano
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Camardese
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico De Berardis
- Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital “G. Mazzini”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Suicide Prevention Centre, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Janiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Maximum Temperature and Solar Radiation as Predictors of Bipolar Patient Admission in an Emergency Psychiatric Ward. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16071140. [PMID: 30934957 PMCID: PMC6480941 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16071140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Environmental variables can regulate behavior in healthy subjects. Recently, some authors investigated the role of meteorological variables in bipolar patients with an impact on both the onset and course of bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of meteorological variables and other indexes in bipolar hospitalized patients. We examined all patients admitted to the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit of San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (Turin, Italy) from September 2013 to August 2015, collecting several socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Seven hundred and thirty patients were included. Compared to the day of admission of control individuals, patients with BD were admitted on a day that presented higher minimum, medium, and maximum temperature, higher maximum humidity, higher solar radiation, and higher hours of sunshine. After logistic regression analysis, admissions to the emergency psychiatric ward due to a primary diagnosis of BD were associated with maximum temperature and solar radiation. The current study provides a novel perspective on the question surrounding seasonal mood patterns in patients with BD. A greater awareness of all possible precipitating factors is needed to inform self-management and psycho-educational programs as well as to improve resilience regarding affective recurrences in the clinical practice.
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Parker G, Hadzi-Pavlovic D, Bayes A, Graham R. Relationship between photoperiod and hospital admissions for mania in New South Wales, Australia. J Affect Disord 2018; 226:72-76. [PMID: 28964995 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Causes for a seasonal impact on admissions for mania remain to be clarified. We examined the impact of photoperiod, rate of change of photoperiod and hours of sunshine on admissions over an extended period. METHODS Monthly admission data to NSW psychiatric hospitals for more than twenty thousand patients admitted for mania over a fifteen-year period were correlated with photoperiod and sunshine changes. RESULTS While the peak in admissions occurred in spring, the shift in admissions being under-represented to being precipitously over-represented corresponded with the photoperiod commencing to increase in winter (i.e. July). Analyses identified rate of change in photoperiod as somewhat more influential than change in photoperiod and with hours of sunshine not making a distinctive contribution. Immediate and delayed impacts of rate of change as well as change in photoperiod across the whole year accounted for a distinctive 20% of the variance in hospital admissions. LIMITATIONS Validity of mania diagnoses cannot be established from the data set, admission data were obtained from across the state while meteorological data were obtained from the capital city, lag periods between onset of a mania and hospitalization (while identified) would impact on associations, social factors were not included and study associations do not imply causality. CONCLUSIONS The lack of a strong year-long correlation may reflect photoperiod changes being only a weak causal factor or that its influence may be through a strong impact phase after the winter solstice and with the spring peaking of admissions reflecting secondary photoperiod or other influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Parker
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Hospital Rd, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
| | - Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Hospital Rd, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Adam Bayes
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Graham
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Hospital Rd, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
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McDermott KM, Brearley MB, Hudson SM, Ward L, Read DJ. Characteristics of trauma mortality in the Northern Territory, Australia. Inj Epidemiol 2017; 4:15. [PMID: 28459122 PMCID: PMC5430002 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-017-0111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While factors including remoteness, alcohol consumption, age and Indigenous ethnicity are well-documented associations of trauma mortality, less is known of trauma seasonality. This is particularly relevant to Australia's Northern Territory, with its tropical regions experiencing a climate of wet (hot and humid) and dry (warm) seasons annually. The aim of this study was to therefore, examine the characteristics of trauma mortality in the Top End, Northern Territory, Australia. METHODS A retrospective review of the National Coroners Information System (NCIS) database from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2007 analysed four-hundred and sixteen traumatic deaths where the trauma event and death occurred within the Top End of the Northern Territory. RESULTS The annual traumatic death rate for the Top End was 58.7 per 100 000, with variance between regions (accessible 38.1; remote 119.1 per 100000, respectively). Overall alcohol was involved in 56.5% of cases. The three most frequent mechanisms of death were suicide, transport related and assault, accounting for 81.5% of deaths. These respective mechanisms of death demonstrated seasonal influence, with transport related deaths 2.5 times more likely to occur in the dry than the wet season (p < 0.001), while assault related deaths were 3.3 times more likely to occur during the wet season (p = 0.005), and suicide was 1.6 times more likely to occur during the wet season (p = 0.022). Transport related deaths were 2.2 times more likely in remote and very remote settings than in accessible or moderately accessible regions (p < 0.003), whereas death by suicide was less likely to occur in remote and very remote regions than in accessible or moderately accessible areas (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION Excessively high rates of traumatic death in the Top End of the Northern Territory were evident, with contrasting seasonal and regional profiles. Based upon the data of this investigation, existing programmes to minimise trauma in the Northern Territory ought to be evaluated for seasonal and regional specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M McDermott
- National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Level 8 Royal Darwin Hospital Rocklands Drive, Tiwi, NT 0810, Australia
| | - Matt B Brearley
- National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Level 8 Royal Darwin Hospital Rocklands Drive, Tiwi, NT 0810, Australia
| | | | - Linda Ward
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
| | - David J Read
- National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Level 8 Royal Darwin Hospital Rocklands Drive, Tiwi, NT 0810, Australia.
- Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia.
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Aguglia A, Borsotti A, Maina G. Bipolar disorders: is there an influence of seasonality or photoperiod? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 40:6-11. [PMID: 28614493 PMCID: PMC6899423 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2016-2144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To increase understanding of the influence of photoperiod variation in patients with bipolar disorders. Methods: We followed a sample of Italian bipolar patients over a period of 24 months, focusing on inpatients. All patients admitted to the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit of San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital in Orbassano (Turin, Italy) between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2015 were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Results: Seven hundred and thirty patients were included. The admission rate for bipolar patients was significantly higher during May, June and July, when there was maximum sunlight exposure, although no seasonal pattern was found. Patients with (hypo)manic episodes were admitted more frequently during the spring and during longer photoperiods than those with major depressive episodes. Conclusions: Photoperiod is a key element in bipolar disorder, not only as an environmental factor but also as an important clinical parameter that should be considered during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Aguglia
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Rita Levi Montalcini, Ospedale San Luigi Gonzaga, Università degli Studi di Torino, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Borsotti
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Rita Levi Montalcini, Ospedale San Luigi Gonzaga, Università degli Studi di Torino, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maina
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Rita Levi Montalcini, Ospedale San Luigi Gonzaga, Università degli Studi di Torino, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
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Comelli I, Vincenti V, Benatti M, Macri GF, Comelli D, Lippi G, Cervellin G. Influence of air temperature variations on incidence of epistaxis. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2016; 29:e175-81. [PMID: 26637565 DOI: 10.2500/ajra.2015.29.4239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Epistaxis is the most common ear, nose, and throat emergency observed in the emergency department (ED). An increased frequency of this condition has been observed during cooler months, but the results of available studies are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonality and association of epistaxis presentations to a large urban ED with variations of air temperature and humidity. METHODS This study was a retrospective case series. Information on all the patients who presented for epistaxis in the ED of the Academic Hospital of Parma during the years 2003-2012 and ages ≥ 14 years were retrieved from the hospital data base, excluding those attributable to trauma. The chronologic data of all visits were associated with climate data (air temperature and humidity) by univariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS Among the 819,596 ED patients seen throughout the observational period, 5404 were admitted for epistaxis. Of these, 5220 were discharged from the ED, whereas 184 (3.4%) needed hospital admission. A strong seasonality of epistaxis was observed, with a peak during winter. A strong negative correlation was also found between the daily number of epistaxes and the mean daily temperature in the whole population as well as in patient subgroups (those undergoing anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy, or those with hypertension, inherited bleeding disorders, liver cirrhosis, or advanced malignancy). A weaker correlation was also found between air humidity and epistaxis but only in certain subgroups. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provided a contribution to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of epistaxis and for specific health policies that should also be planned by considering the seasonality of nosebleed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Comelli
- Emergency Department, Academic Hospital of Parma, Italy
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Hochman E, Valevski A, Onn R, Weizman A, Krivoy A. Seasonal pattern of manic episode admissions among bipolar I disorder patients is associated with male gender and presence of psychotic features. J Affect Disord 2016; 190:123-127. [PMID: 26497765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar I disorder (BD-I) patients demonstrate disrupted chronobiology expressed as seasonal variation in mood symptoms. The seasonal pattern (SP) specifier of mood disorders was recently extended by the DSM-5, to be applied to manic episodes. However, the significance of seasonality of manic episodes for the course of BD-I is unknown. In the present study we sought to identify clinical and demographic features that discriminate between BD-I patients with and without SP of manic admissions. METHODS BD-I patients (n=148) admitted at least twice with the same mood exacerbation type, were retrospectively followed between 2005 and 2013. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between BD-I patients with or without SP of manic admissions. RESULTS SP of manic episode admissions, found in 31 (26%) of 117 BD-I patients with repeated manic episode admissions, was associated with higher rates of male gender (p=0.01), presence of psychotic features (p=0.01) and comorbid substance use disorder (p<0.05) compared to patients without SP. In a multivariate analysis, SP of manic episode admissions was associated with the presence of psychotic features (OR 8.42, 95% CI: 1.05-67.65, p<0.05) and male gender (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.08-9.65, p<0.05), but not with comorbidity of substance use disorder (OR 1.79, 95% CI: 0.71-4.50, p=0.24). LIMITATIONS Seasonal psychological/environmental factors contributing to the emergent of mood episodes could not be ruled out. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that SP of manic admissions is associated with male gender and the presence of psychotic features, thus might be associated with more severe form of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eldar Hochman
- Geha Mental Health Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Avi Valevski
- Geha Mental Health Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Roy Onn
- Geha Mental Health Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Abraham Weizman
- Geha Mental Health Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel
| | - Amir Krivoy
- Geha Mental Health Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel
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Effet des saisons sur la sémiologie des troubles bipolaires. ANNALES MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGIQUES 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.amp.2015.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Rajkumar RP, Sarkar S. Seasonality of Admissions for Mania: Results From a General Hospital Psychiatric Unit in Pondicherry, India. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2015; 17:15m01780. [PMID: 26644962 DOI: 10.4088/pcc.15m01780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bipolar disorder is affected by variables that modulate circadian rhythm, including seasonal variations. There is evidence of a seasonal pattern of admissions of mania in various geographical settings, though its timing varies by region and climate. Variables such as age and gender have been shown to affect seasonality in some studies. METHODOLOGY Data on monthly admission patterns for mania at a general hospital psychiatry unit in Pondicherry, India, were collected for 4 years (2010-2013) and analyzed for seasonality and seasonal peaks. The effects of age and gender were analyzed separately. RESULTS There was overall evidence of a seasonal pattern of admissions for mania (P < .01, Friedman test for seasonality), with a peak beginning during the rainy season and ending before summer (P < .0.1, Ratchet circular scan test). Male sex (P < .005, Ratchet circular scan test) and age > 25 years (P < .005, Ratchet circular scan test) were specifically associated with this seasonal peak. DISCUSSION The effect of seasons on mania is complex and is modulated by a variety of variables. Our study is consistent with earlier research findings: a greater degree of seasonality for mania in men. It is possible that climatic and individual variables interact to determine seasonal patterns in bipolar disorder in a given setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Philip Rajkumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India
| | - Siddharth Sarkar
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Suicide rates have widely been reported to peak in spring and summer. A frequent hypothesis is that increased sunlight exposure alters biological mechanisms. However, few attempts have been made to systematically untangle the putative suicidogenic risk of sunlight exposure from that of seasonality. We examined whether average hours of daily sunlight in a month confer additional risk over month of year when predicting monthly suicide rates. DESIGN Historical population-based ecological longitudinal study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We used 3 longitudinal studies (n=31,060 suicides) with monthly suicide and meteorological data from Greece (1992-2001), Victoria, Australia (1990-1998) and Norway (1969-2009). INTERVENTION We used a negative binomial regression to observe (1) the association of month of year with suicides, adjusting for different sunlight exposures, and (2) the association of sunlight exposure with suicides, adjusting for month of year. We then investigated claims that suicides were associated with daily sunlight exposures, defined by us as 2550 sunlight exposure combinations corresponding to a 1-50 days exposure window with lags of 0-50 days. RESULTS Using monthly data, the association between month of year and suicides remained after adjusting for mean daily hours of sunlight and change in the mean daily hours of sunlight. Adjusted for month of year, the associations between sunlight exposure and suicides became non-significant and attenuated towards the null (the coefficient estimate for mean daily hours of sunlight decreased in absolute magnitude by 72%). The findings were consistent across all 3 cohorts, both when analysed separately and combined. When investigating daily sunlight exposures, we found no significant results after correcting for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS Using monthly data, the robustness of our month of year effects, combined with the transient and modest nature of our sunlight effects, suggested that the association between sunlight exposure and suicide was a proxy for the association between seasonality and suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deborah Azrael
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fotios C Papadopoulos
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gavin W Lambert
- Human Neurotransmitters Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew Miller
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Geoffroy PA, Bellivier F, Scott J, Etain B. Seasonality and bipolar disorder: a systematic review, from admission rates to seasonality of symptoms. J Affect Disord 2014; 168:210-23. [PMID: 25063960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Revised: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder affecting 1-4% of the population worldwide. It is characterized by periods of (hypo)manic and depressive episodes. Seasonal patterns (SP) may be observed in admission rates, mood relapses and symptom fluctuations. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of seasonality in BD, classifying studies based on seasonal admission rates to seasonality of symptoms assessments. RESULTS Fifty-one papers were identified of which 32 addressed hospitalization rates by season, 6 addressed categorical diagnoses, and 13 explored symptom dimensions. Seasonal peaks for different BD mood episodes are observed worldwide and widely replicated. Manic episodes peak during spring/summer and, to a lesser extent, in autumn, depressive episodes peak in early winter and, to a lesser extent, summer, and mixed episodes peak in early spring or mid/late summer. There was a high frequency of SP for manic episodes (15%) and depressive episodes (25%), the latter being associated with a more complex clinical profile (BD II subtype, comorbid eating disorders, more relapses and rapid cycling). Finally, there was evidence for greater seasonal fluctuations in mood and behavior in individuals with BD than in those with unipolar depression or 'healthy' controls. LIMITATIONS Sample size, gender distribution, methodological quality and sophistication of the analytical approaches employed varied considerably. CONCLUSIONS There is evidence of seasonality in BD, with emerging evidence that climatic conditions may trigger BD symptoms or episodes. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms would facilitate the development of personalized chronobiological therapeutic and preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Alexis Geoffroy
- Inserm, U1144, Paris F-75006, France; AP-HP, GH Saint-Louis - Lariboisière - Fernand Widal, Pôle Neurosciences, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S 1144, Paris, F-75006, France; Université Paris Diderot, UMR-S 1144, Paris, F-75013, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, 94000, France.
| | - Frank Bellivier
- Inserm, U1144, Paris F-75006, France; AP-HP, GH Saint-Louis - Lariboisière - Fernand Widal, Pôle Neurosciences, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France; Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S 1144, Paris, F-75006, France; Université Paris Diderot, UMR-S 1144, Paris, F-75013, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, 94000, France
| | - Jan Scott
- Academic Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, UK; Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - Bruno Etain
- Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, 94000, France; AP-HP, Hôpital H. Mondor - A. Chenevier, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Créteil, 94000, France; Inserm, U955, Psychiatrie génétique, Créteil, 94000, France
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Wang X, Lavigne E, Ouellette-kuntz H, Chen BE. Acute impacts of extreme temperature exposure on emergency room admissions related to mental and behavior disorders in Toronto, Canada. J Affect Disord 2014; 155:154-61. [PMID: 24332428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of extreme ambient temperature on hospital emergency room visits (ER) related to mental and behavioral illnesses in Toronto, Canada. METHODS A time series study was conducted using health and climatic data from 2002 to 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Relative risks (RRs) for increases in emergency room (ER) visits were estimated for specific mental and behavioral diseases (MBD) after exposure to hot and cold temperatures while using the 50th percentile of the daily mean temperature as reference. Poisson regression models using a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) were used. We adjusted for the effects of seasonality, humidity, day-of-the-week and outdoor air pollutants. RESULTS We found a strong association between MBD ER visits and mean daily temperature at 28°C. The association was strongest within a period of 0-4 days for exposure to hot temperatures. A 29% (RR=1.29, 95% CI 1.09-1.53) increase in MBD ER vists was observed over a cumulative period of 7 days after exposure to high ambient temperature (99th percentile vs. 50th percentile). Similar associations were reported for schizophrenia, mood, and neurotic disorers. No significant associations with cold temperatures were reported. LIMITATIONS The ecological nature and the fact that only one city was investigated. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that extreme temperature poses a risk to the health and wellbeing for individuals with mental and behavior illnesses. Patient management and education may need to be improved as extreme temperatures may become more prevalent with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Food-Borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Environmental Issues Division, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Canada.
| | - Eric Lavigne
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Food-Borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Environmental Issues Division, Canada.
| | - Hélène Ouellette-kuntz
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Canada.
| | - Bingshu E Chen
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Canada.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The goal of this article is to summarize the evidence for seasonal mania based on research studies and findings concerning interrelationships among circadian rhythm, manic episodes, and mood stabilizers. METHODS The PubMed database was searched using the key word "seasonal mania." This search generated a list of 197 papers published between 1990 and 2011, 29 of which were original research studies on seasonal mania. The findings from these studies were reviewed with regard to their relevance to the mechanisms involved in seasonal mania and strategies for managing mania. RESULTS Of the 29 research studies, the majority (n=23) provided evidence for a significant seasonal pattern for mania, while the other 6 studies did not. Most of the studies reported that mania occurred more often during spring and summer and that depression occurred more often during fall and winter. The authors of the studies estimated a prevalence of seasonal mania of 15% among patients with bipolar disorder. It is hypothesized that the underlying mechanism for seasonal mania may be hypersensitivity to bright light that suppresses melatonin production. Both lithium and valproate can counteract the action of bright light in suppressing melatonin and prolong sleep-wake cycles in the circadian rhythms of patients with bipolar disorder. These effects may at least partially explain their efficacy as mood stabilizing agents. No research studies were located that provided information on managing the medication regimen, especially of mood stabilizing medications, based on the seasonal patterns seen in some patients with bipolar disorder in order to reduce the risk of relapse associated with seasonal mania. Positive findings in this area might lead to a new paradigm for the management of patients with bipolar disorder who have seasonal mania.
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Sung TI, Chen MJ, Su HJ. A positive relationship between ambient temperature and bipolar disorder identified using a national cohort of psychiatric inpatients. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2013; 48:295-302. [PMID: 22763494 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-012-0542-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study characterizes the positive relationship between daily temperature and bipolar disorder in a cohort of Taiwanese psychiatric inpatients. METHODS Meteorological data, provided by the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) of Taiwan, were interpolated to create representative estimates of mean diurnal temperatures for 352 townships. Psychiatric inpatient admissions enrolled in the national health-care insurance system were retrieved from the 1996-2007 Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claim (PIMC) dataset. The generalized linear mixed models with Poisson distribution were used to evaluate the relative risks of mean diurnal temperature with respect to increased admissions for bipolar disorder, while adjusting for internal correlations and demographic covariates. RESULTS Increased relative risks of bipolar disorder admissions were associated with the increasing trends of temperature over 24.0 °C (50th ‰), especially for adults and females. The highest daily diurnal temperatures above 30.7 °C (99th ‰) had the greatest risks of bipolar hospitalizations. CONCLUSION Understanding the increase of bipolar disorder admissions occurring in extreme heat is important in the preparation and prevention of massive recurrences of bipolar episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-I Sung
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Rd, Tainan 704, Taiwan
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Seasonal influences on admissions for mood disorders and schizophrenia in a teaching psychiatric hospital in Egypt. J Affect Disord 2012; 137:56-60. [PMID: 22244374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Revised: 11/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Distinct seasonal variation in hospital admission and various associations with the climatic parameters for mood disorders and schizophrenia have been previously reported in several world regions. There are, however, no North-African studies on this association. METHODS The charts of 1987 patients with mood disorders (mania 1181, depression 806) and 1359 patients with schizophrenia admitted from 2003 to 2007 from an university hospital at Mansoura, Egypt, were reviewed. Seasonality was assessed with Cosinor Analysis. Correlations of the rate of admissions for affective disorders and schizophrenia to climatic variables were performed, including lagged and differenced data. RESULTS There was a significant seasonal variation in the monthly admission frequencies both for mania (peak in June) and for depression (peak in December) but no significant seasonal variation was found in admissions with diagnosis of schizophrenia. The number of admissions for mania was positively correlated to indicators of temperature and luminosity, but inversely correlated to relative humidity. Quite the opposite, the number of admissions for depression showed a negative correlation to temperature and luminosity, but a positive correlation to relative humidity. 55-57% of the monthly variance of the number of admissions for mood disorders was explained by climatic variables. CONCLUSIONS Seasonality of admissions for mood disorders, but not for schizophrenia, has been demonstrated, in an African Mediterranean region with a fairly constant climate. The association between admission rates and climatic variables found in this study could pave the way for further studies aiming at exploration of the biological mechanism of this association as well as tailoring of treatment interventions on mood disorders.
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Seasonality of suicidal behavior. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2012; 9:531-47. [PMID: 22470308 PMCID: PMC3315262 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph9020531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A seasonal suicide peak in spring is highly replicated, but its specific cause is unknown. We reviewed the literature on suicide risk factors which can be associated with seasonal variation of suicide rates, assessing published articles from 1979 to 2011. Such risk factors include environmental determinants, including physical, chemical, and biological factors. We also summarized the influence of potential demographic and clinical characteristics such as age, gender, month of birth, socioeconomic status, methods of prior suicide attempt, and comorbid psychiatric and medical diseases. Comprehensive evaluation of risk factors which could be linked to the seasonal variation in suicide is important, not only to identify the major driving force for the seasonality of suicide, but also could lead to better suicide prevention in general.
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Murray G, Lam RW, Beaulieu S, Sharma V, Cervantes P, Parikh SV, Yatham LN. Do symptoms of bipolar disorder exhibit seasonal variation? A multisite prospective investigation. Bipolar Disord 2011; 13:687-95. [PMID: 22085482 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2011.00959.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Evidence that symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD) vary seasonally is inconclusive. Here, a multisite prospective investigation of patients with BD was used to test the hypothesis that, on average, depressive symptoms peak in autumn/winter and hypo/manic symptoms peak in spring/summer. Secondary analyses explored gender and diagnosis [bipolar I disorder (BD-I) versus bipolar II disorder (BD-II)] effects on seasonality. METHODS A sample of 429 patients with BD (61.6% female; 56.2% BD-I) were recruited from 12 sites across Canada. Clinician-rated measures of manic [Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), n = 4,753 total observations] and depression symptoms [Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), n = 4,691 observations] were taken at scheduled three-month visits as well as any unscheduled visits. At scheduled visits only, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D) assessments (n = 3,153 observations) were also made. Multi-level modeling (MLM) analyses were conducted separately for the three dependent variables and three definitions of Time: calendar month, nominal season, and harmonic analysis. RESULTS Primary analyses of the whole sample found that for manic symptoms (YMRS), neither calendar month nor nominal season were significant, and harmonic analyses found an unpredicted frequency two sinusoid, with peaks at 4th December and 4th June (p < 0.018). Secondary analyses found that this sinusoid approximately fit the YMRS data for females and those diagnosed with BD-II. For depression symptoms measured on the MADRS and Ham-D, no significant seasonal patterns were found in primary analyses of the whole sample. Secondary analyses found a significant increase in MADRS scores in November/December among females, but this pattern was not corroborated in nominal season or harmonic analyses. CONCLUSIONS No evidence of systematic seasonal variation in symptoms was found in the sample as a whole. Primary analyses found no evidence that hypo/manic symptoms peaked in the lighter months and depressive symptoms peaked in the darker months. The present findings align with broadly negative conclusions from three earlier prospective investigations, and provide the strongest evidence to date that seasonal changes do not in fact cause coordinated variation in BD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Murray
- Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
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Re: Loder RT, Abrams, S. Temporal variation in childhood injury from common recreational activities [Injury 2010;41:886–99]. Injury 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2010.07.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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Ajdacic-Gross V, Bopp M, Ring M, Gutzwiller F, Rossler W. Seasonality in suicide--a review and search of new concepts for explaining the heterogeneous phenomena. Soc Sci Med 2010; 71:657-66. [PMID: 20573433 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2009] [Revised: 01/28/2010] [Accepted: 05/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Seasonality is one of the oldest and most resistant-to-elucidation issues in suicide research. However, in recent years epidemiological research has yielded new results, which provide new perspectives on the matter. This qualitative review summarizes research published since the 1990 s. In particular, the focus is on studies dealing with the historical change of seasonality, cross-sectional comparisons including method-specific diversity, and the association with weather variables and other putative covariates. Recent research has shown that in Western countries the seasonality of suicide is tending to diminish and may, eventually, disappear. It can no longer be considered a universal and homogeneous phenomenon. In addition, different major seasonal cycles have now been determined which mainly depend on different suicide methods. Just as in the epidemiology of suicide methods, the (seasonal) availability and perceived adequacy of methods emerge as the major driving force beyond the seasonal phenomena in suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross
- Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Department of Clinical and Social Psychiatry, Militarstr. 8, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Olver J, Love M, Daniel J, Norman T, Nicholls D. The impact of a changed environment on arousal levels of patients in a secure extended rehabilitation facility. Australas Psychiatry 2009; 17:207-211. [PMID: 19404817 DOI: 10.1080/10398560902839473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study sought to investigate the effect of changes of the physical ward environment on levels of arousal and aggression in long-stay patients in a secure extended rehabilitation facility. METHOD Seclusion episodes, extended seclusion episodes, staff report of aggressive incidents and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) measures of psychopathology were compared in the same group of long-stay rehabilitation patients over a period of 3 months before and 3 months after a move from a temporary, refurbished medical ward to a large, light-filled, purpose-built facility. RESULTS Fifteen patients were present during both investigation periods. The majority were male (80%) and had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (53%) or schizoaffective disorder (13%). There were statistically significant reductions in the mean number of seclusion episodes, mean number of extended seclusion episodes (> 4 hours) and BPRS total score following the move. There were statistically significant increases in ambient light conditions in the new unit. CONCLUSIONS The physical environment of long-stay rehabilitation wards may influence aggressive behaviour and arousal in chronically ill patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Olver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia.
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