Small shifts in diurnal rhythms are associated with an increase in suicide: The effect of daylight saving

  1. Michael BERK1,2,3,*,
  2. Seetal DODD1,
  3. Karen HALLAM2,
  4. Lesley BERK1,
  5. John GLEESON4,
  6. Margaret HENRY1

Article first published online: 21 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00331.x

Issue

Sleep and Biological Rhythms

Sleep and Biological Rhythms

Volume 6, Issue 1, pages 22–25, January 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

BERK, M., DODD, S., HALLAM, K., BERK, L., GLEESON, J. and HENRY, M. (2008), Small shifts in diurnal rhythms are associated with an increase in suicide: The effect of daylight saving. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 6: 22–25. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00331.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, University of Melbourne, Geelong,

  2. 2

    ORYGEN Research Centre,

  3. 3

    Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria and

  4. 4

    Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

*Professor Michael Berk, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, PO Box 281 Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia. Email: mikebe@barwonhealth.org.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 FEB 2008
  2. Article first published online: 21 FEB 2008
  3. Received 29 April 2007/Accepted 28 July 2007.

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Keywords:

  • chronobiology;
  • daylight saving;
  • jet lag;
  • suicide

Abstract

Large disruptions of chronobiological rhythms are documented as destabilizing individuals with bipolar disorder; however, the impact of small phase altering events is unclear. Australian suicide data from 1971 to 2001 were assessed to determine the impact on the number of suicides of a 1-h time shift due to daylight saving. The results confirm that male suicide rates rise in the weeks following the commencement of daylight saving, compared to the weeks following the return to eastern standard time and for the rest of the year. After adjusting for the season, prior to 1986 suicide rates in the weeks following the end of daylight saving remained significantly increased compared to the rest of autumn. This study suggests that small changes in chronobiological rhythms are potentially destabilizing in vulnerable individuals.

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