Contrary to popular belief, the full moon does not increase the incidence of psychological problems, say researchers

Not loony, when moony!

Contrary to popular belief, the full moon does not increase the incidence of psychological problems, say researchers

Ateam of researchers, directed by Professor Genevieve Belleville of Universite Laval’s School of Psychology, examined the relationship between the moon’s phases and the number of people who suffer from psychological problems during this time. To determine whether the belief, linking the moon to mental health problems was true, researchers evaluated patients who visited emergency rooms between March 2005 and April 2008. They focused specifically on 771 individuals who showed up at the emergency room with chest pains for which no medical cause could be determined.
    Psychological evaluations showed that many patients suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, mood disorders or suicidal thoughts. Using lunar calendars, the researchers determined the moon phase, in which,
each of these visits occurred. The results of their analyses revealed no link between the incidence of psychological problems and the four lunar phases.
    However, there was one exception; anxiety disorders were 32 per cent less frequent during the last lunar quarter. “But one thing is certain: we observed no full moon or new moon effect on psychological problems,” Belleville said. The conclusions run contrary to what many believe, including 80 per cent of nurses and 64 per cent of doctors who are convinced that the lunar cycle affects patients’ mental health.
    “We hope our results will encourage health professionals to put that idea to rest,” Belleville said. “Otherwise, this misperception could on the one hand, colour their judgment during the full moon phase; or, on the other
    hand, make them less
    attentive to psychological problems that surface during the remainder of the month,” she added.
ANI