Citation

Yang Lester B, Lester D, Lyke J, Olsen R. Psychol. Rep. 2015; 116(3): 983-985.

Affiliation

Drexel University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.2466/12.13.PR0.116k28w4

PMID

25933046

Abstract

The yearly suicide rates for the period 1933-2010 and the daily suicide numbers for 1990 and 1991 were examined for whether the distribution of difference scores (from year to year and from day to day) fitted a normal distribution, a characteristic of stochastic processes that follow a random walk. If the suicide rate were a random walk, then any disturbance to the suicide rate would have a permanent effect and national suicide prevention efforts would likely fail. The distribution of difference scores from day to day (but not the difference scores from year to year) fitted a normal distribution and, therefore, were consistent with a random walk.

Language: en