The Seasonal Prevalence of Neurosis

Abstract

There have been only a few investigations into the seasonal prevalence of neurosis. Stocks (1949) found in a morbidity survey by interview the lowest prevalence of “nervous complaints” in July and August and the highest in October and November. Smiley, Buck, Anderson and Hobbs (1954) in Canada found that there was a higher number of insured claiming benefit for “mental illness” in January than in July. McCartney (1962) in private psychiatric practice in New York found that there was a seasonal variation in the number of referrals of various types of neurotic reactions. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the seasonal variation in attendances with symptoms of psychiatric ill health in a general practice and compare this with the seasonal variations of attendances due to physical illness.