Resource Tag: BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS

Background Although the disturbance of circadian rhythms represents a significant clinical feature of major depressive disorder (MDD), the relationship between biological rhythm disturbances and the severity of suicidal ideation in individuals with MDD remains unclear. We aimed to explore the characteristics of different biological rhythm dimensions in MDD and their association with the severity of […]

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The authors report a case of severe depression with diurnal variation in an adult male who showed low CSF 5HIAA prior to his suicide. In contrast, his catecholamine metabolites were 50% above the mean values of other depressed patients. Hormonal measurements, however, showed low cortisol, prolactin & beta-endorphin levels. (26 refs)

MVM

MVM

This study was designed to determine the seasonality of serotonin functions among adolescents who attempt suicide. Platelet 3Himipramine binding was assessed over 18 months in 98 adolescent attempters & a comparison group of 23 never-suicidal youths with conduct disorder. 3Himipramne (Bmax) was uncorrelated with age, but showed considerable seasonal variability over time in those who […]

The goal of this study was to compare the symptoms & family history of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with those of nonseasonal mood disorders. Patients with SAD reported significantly more hypersomnia, hyperphagia, & weight gain & reported less suicidal ideation & morning worsening of mood than the patients with nonseasonal mood disorders. No differences were […]

In this study beta-adrenoceptors were quantitated in several brain regions & pineal glands from suicide victims & sex & age matched controls. Also used wes retrospective psychiatric diagnosis of depression. Materials & methods of the study are discussed as well as results.(40 ref)

The hypothesis that a peaking of suicide deaths in males during the morning hours may be due to diurnal variation of serotonin & decreasing serotonergic-mediated inhibition of dopamine is discussed in this letter. Supporting evidence includes: a link between low serum cholesterol & suicide; importance of dopamine in the control of wakefulness manifested by a […]

It has been reported that the change in photoperiod induced by the occurrence of daylight saving time (DST) has an effect on psychiatric presentation. The authors therefore investigated the impact of DST in 3 conditions: parasuicide presentations; psychiatric outpatient contacts & inpatient admissions; & registered suicides. Results show neither the change in photoperiod nor the […]

This study examines lunar influence on various demonstrations of emotional crises. Data was gathered from several sources: suicide statistics from the Kalamazoo Country Health Department, County Police, and suicidal calls to a crisis line. Statistical analysis of this data is examined. Findings during different phases of the moon are discussed. Generally, no significant correlations were […]

The author discusses the possible relationships between what he calls cessation & interruption phenomena & describes a study of the phenomenological aspects of the sleep behavior of 7 individuals over a 365-day period. He concludes that sleep itself is rarely self-destructive but can be viewed as the silent therapist of disturbance, balancing & leveling the […]

European patterns of suicide correlate with national annual rates of sunshine. Possible influences of the climate on behavior are examined, and differences between European and American regional patterns of suicide are discussed. Physiological as well as psychological motivations for self-destruction may play a greater part in human behavior than is commonly anticipated. 17 REF. (NBB)

Biorhythms are briefly discussed from external perspectives, such as time & weather, & internal perspectives which include emotional, physical & intellectual cycles.(NBB)

Data on occurrence of suicide from a population of 993 Veterans Administration hospital patients were used to test the validity of the Fliess-Swoboda Biorhythm Theory. Using a novel approach to analysis, semicritical day types were included. The findings have heuristic value & may be useful to clinicians treating male Caucasian Veterans Administration inpatients. Suggestions for […]

In Finnish Lappland, 111 suicide events were analyzed in a one-and a half year period with respect to age, sex of the subject, amount of alcohol present in the blood, biorhythm curves at the day of death, unemployment percentage in the country of residence, time of the year, month, day of the week when suicides […]

In the event of a major European war the Army Medical Services(AMS), of whom the majority would be drawn from the Territorial Army(TA), would be exposed to a unique combination of stresses. Ways of reducing the effects of these are discussed.

Seasonal variation of conception rate & suicide death were studied using UN & WHO data. Findings significant to suicide were: the peak of the suicide curve most often occurs in the spring, although this hypothesis is not supported conclusively; the Japanese data indicates seasonal variation of suicide death moves by age group; i.e., the younger […]

Circadian disorganization was studied in 15 normal males. Following a 5 day baseline period, a 12 hour photoperiod shift took place followed by a 10 day recovery period. Analysis of data on a subject who suicided 2 weeks after the study indicated that he differed, rhythmically from the other subjects, suggesting that circadian asynchrony & […]

This statistical study refutes the hypothesis that most completed suicides occur in persons born in the month of July.

Data from 107 women included age & marital status, attempt method, period of contemplation of attempt, regularity of menstrual periods, whether taking an oral contraceptive & whether subject believed she was pregnant. Restricted analysis to 76 with regular cycles. Results show no significant relationship bewteen attempted suicide & phase of the menstrual cycle. Pointed out […]

The purpose of this study was to find a relationship between month of birth & suicide. The sample consisted of 1177 suicides in New Hampshire from 1955-69. However, the author found no relationship between month of birth & suicide. No seasonal (that is, months of birth during the winter months) relationship was found either. The […]

Letter to the Editor