Seasonal distribution of suicide in alcoholism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seasonal distribution of suicide in alcohol dependence and to make a comparison with unnatural death in alcoholism and suicide in other diagnostic groups. METHOD: Multiaxial ratings of all patients admitted to the Department of Psychiatry in Lund enabled the selection of patients with alcohol dependence (n=1312) during 1949-1969. When followed up to 1997 a total of 102 (99 men) alcoholic patients had taken their own life. Reference groups were patients with severe depression and autopsy cases with other diagnoses. RESULTS: The alcoholic patients showed a peak during the second quarter of the year (34%, P < 0.05). Other diagnostic groups of suicide and unnatural death in alcoholism did not show any overrepresentation in the spring. CONCLUSION: Male alcoholics showed a spring peak of suicide as opposed to other diagnostic groups.