Do Monthly or Seasonal Variations Exist in Suicides in a High-Risk Setting?

Within a total survey of suicides in the Austrian penitentiary system, the weekly, monthly & seasonal distribution of custodial suicides between 1947 & 1999 was studied. A harmonic Poisson regression model was performed to detect seasonality of suicides. No unequal distribution of suicides was evident over the 53-year period. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed. (34 refs)