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Seasonal Patterns of Suicide, Depression and Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. R. Eastwood
Affiliation:
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
J. Peacocke
Affiliation:
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada

Summary

This study examined the hypothesis that there are seasonal variations for suicide, hospital admissions for depressive illnesses and electroconvulsive therapy and that these are inter-related. It was found that the seasonal variations did coincide, with peaks occurring in the Ontario spring and autumn. The importance of depression as a cause of suicide and the effect of electroconvulsive therapy upon the suicide rate are discussed.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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