TY - JOUR PY - 2013// TI - The effects of daily weather variables on psychosis admissions to psychiatric hospitals JO - International journal of biometeorology A1 - McWilliams, Stephen A1 - Kinsella, Anthony A1 - O'Callaghan, Eadbhard SP - 497 EP - 508 VL - 57 IS - 4 N2 - 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.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0020-7128 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0575-1 ID - ref1 ER -