Cyclical variation in psychotropic drug prescription.

There now exists considerable evidence for a cyclical variation in the occurrence of a variety of psychiatric disorders, including depression,' mania,2 schizophrenia,3 and suicide.4 Cyclical variation in neurosis is, however, more equivocal: McCartney5 found a seasonal variation in neurosis referrals to American private practice, and Kellner" found that general practitioner (GP) attendances for neurosis were 'somewhat larger in the winter months'. However, Hare and Walter3 found that, compared with schizophrenia and mania, there was little seasonal variation in admissions to hospital for neurosis and other non-psychotic psychiatric conditions. There is also evidence that at least one form of psychiatric treatment is subject to cyclical variation in its use. Eastwood and Peacockel found the use of electric convulsion therapy (ECT) in Ontario to be subject to regular variation throughout the year, with peak use corresponding with the annual peaks in suicide and admissions to hospital with depression. In this paper we report on cyclical variation in the prescription of psychotropic drugs by GPs. Apart from any intrinsic interest, such a study is relevant to three issues: