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The effects of daily weather variables on psychosis admissions to psychiatric hospitals

International Journal of Biometeorology volume 57, pages 497–508 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Several studies have noted seasonal variations in admission rates of patients with psychotic illnesses. However, the changeable daily meteorological patterns within seasons have never been examined in any great depth in the context of admission rates. A handful of small studies have posed interesting questions regarding a potential link between psychiatric admission rates and meteorological variables such as environmental temperature (especially heat waves) and sunshine. In this study, we used simple non-parametric testing and more complex ARIMA and time-series regression analysis to examine whether daily meteorological patterns (wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, rainfall, sunshine, sunlight and temperature) exert an influence on admission rates for psychotic disorders across 12 regions in Ireland. Although there were some weak but interesting trends for temperature, barometric pressure and sunshine, the meteorological patterns ultimately did not exert a clinically significant influence over admissions for psychosis. Further analysis is needed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Health Research Board and Met Eireann for supplying the data used in this study.

Declaration of interest

None.

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Affiliations

  1. St John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, Ireland

    Stephen McWilliams & Eadbhard O’Callaghan

  2. DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Avila House, Block 5, Blackrock Business Park, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland

    Stephen McWilliams, Anthony Kinsella & Eadbhard O’Callaghan

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Eadbhard O’Callaghan

Authors
  1. Stephen McWilliams
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  2. Anthony Kinsella
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  3. Eadbhard O’Callaghan
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Correspondence to Stephen McWilliams.

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McWilliams, S., Kinsella, A. & O’Callaghan, E. The effects of daily weather variables on psychosis admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Int J Biometeorol 57, 497–508 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0575-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0575-1

Keywords

  • Meteorology
  • Temperature
  • Barometric-pressure
  • Sunshine
  • Psychosis
  • Admissions
  • Time-series analysis