CIRCADIAN-RHYTHM OF PARASUICIDE IN RELATION TO VIOLENCE OF METHOD ANDCONCOMITANT MENTAL DISORDER

Circadian occurrence of parasuicide was evaluated in relation to sex, violence of parasuicide method and psychiatric diagnosis. In all, 457 consecutive episodes of parasuicide were recruited during a 5-year per iod. Complete data for time of parasuicide, parasuicide method, parasu icide recurrency and psychiatric diagnosis (ICD-9) were available for 304 subjects. Parasuicide methods were classified into two groups depe nding on the violence of the method. Parasuicide occurred significantl y more often in the afternoon and evening hours for both men and women , for both violent and non-violent methods, both in first-event cases and repeaters, and in the following diagnostic groups. organic mental and psychoactive substance disorders, neurotic disorders and personali ty disorders. The data support the hypothesis of a circadian rhythmici ty of parasuicide, showing an area of chronobiological risk in the aft ernoon and early evening hours.