Barometric Pressure, Emergency Psychiatric Visits, and Violent Acts

The authors studied the association of certain weather variables with emergent psychiatric presentations, psychiatric admissions, incidence of violent crimes, & suicides in a metropolitan area. The data suggest that total numbers of acts of violence & emergency psychiatry visits are significantly associated with low barometric pressure. Psychiatric inpatient admissions & suicides are not associated with any of the weather variables investigated. (17 refs)