Space and earth weather mirrored in patterns of suicide incidence

Cornelissen, Germaine, Dimitrov, Borislav D., Carandente, Franca and Halberg, Franz (2011) Space and earth weather mirrored in patterns of suicide incidence. World Heart Journal, 3 (1), 31-42.

Abstract

Exploring any non-photic as well as photic components in the spectrum of the incidence pattern of suicides, we find gender differences in Minnesota, USA, and Australia, notably in the para-annual range of the spectrum. A trans-tridecadal BEL cycle (also more liberally referred to as para-tridecadal) with a period of about 35 years is found in data pooled from both genders and separately for both men and women in Finland (1969-2007). When fitted separately as a single component, the estimated period and its 95% confidence interval (CI) (in years) is 35.5 [26.7, 44.3] overall, 36.4 [25.3, 47.5] for males, and 38.9 [28.5, 49.3] for females, with respective amplitudes (N/100,000) of 170 [119, 222], 145 [98, 192], and 29 [18, 40]. Differences between a Schwabe cycle and an about 7-year component (possibly a harmonic of the Hale cycle) characterizing suicide patterns of Finnish men and women, respectively, remain to be examined in longer series. In Bulgaria (1929-1945), a far-transyear with a period of about 1.3 years is noteworthy as is a quinmensal component with an about 5-month period. In France (1979-2008), in males and females, suicides are characterized by about 10.0-year and 10.1-year cycles, respectively. In Japan (1987-1999), an about 12.7-year component is detected, albeit with a broad uncertainty. A better understanding of the origin of these patterns, notably in terms of the relative contribution of non-photic and photic (daily and yearly) cycles, may lead to better prediction of incidence dynamics and to novel interventions for the prevention of major depression and suicide

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