The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of a daily chronobiologic rhythm in suicidal behavior and opiate overdose syndrome. One hundred and eighty-one patients and 117 subjects, respectively, were investigated during one solar year. In attempted suicide a significant circadian rhythmicity was found for patients as a whole and females separately, while in the latter study significant periodicity concerned the total subjects and males singly. Both situations disclosed a peak of incidence in the evening, at about 7 p.m. Potential explanations of these results include diurnal variation in mood, possibly related to cyclical hormone and neurotransmitter secretions, and social habits.
Circadian periodicity in suicidal behaviour and in opiate overdose syndrome
VIGNA, Giovanni Battista;MANFREDINI, Roberto;
1995
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of a daily chronobiologic rhythm in suicidal behavior and opiate overdose syndrome. One hundred and eighty-one patients and 117 subjects, respectively, were investigated during one solar year. In attempted suicide a significant circadian rhythmicity was found for patients as a whole and females separately, while in the latter study significant periodicity concerned the total subjects and males singly. Both situations disclosed a peak of incidence in the evening, at about 7 p.m. Potential explanations of these results include diurnal variation in mood, possibly related to cyclical hormone and neurotransmitter secretions, and social habits.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.