Winter-time solar radiation, precipitation, and psychotropic medication purchases: A cohort study in Finnish public sector employees.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Northern latitudes, winter is the darkest time of the year, and depressive episodes during winter are prevalent. Although changing weather patterns due to climate change are projected to result in warmer and wetter and, thus, even darker winters, research on the impact of winter-time natural light and precipitation on mental health is scarce. We examined associations of exposure to solar radiation and precipitation with psychotropic medication and antidepressant purchases in winter months.

Methods

Of the 251,268 eligible participants from the Finnish public sector study, aged ≥18 years, 72% were women. Associations for municipality-level 4-week average solar radiation and precipitation with register-based medication purchases from 1999 to 2016 were analyzed usi

SUBMITTER: Raza A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11822337 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature