The effect of lunar phases on mental illness

ABSTRACT

To assess the lunar hypothesis as predictive of mental health emergencies and antisocial behaviour, the relation of lunar phases and the occurrence of psychiatric hospital admissions or aggressive behaviour by the inpatients of the hospital for the five-year period 1986-1990 were examined. The first admissions, readmissions and total admissions by gender during four lunar phases (New moon, First quarter, Full moon and Last quarter) were compared with each other, and with the average daily admissions during the rest of the lunar month. All agressive outbursts or fights whether resulting in any form of injury during these lunar phases were compared with each other and with those during the rest of the month. Chi-square analysis did not show any significant variation in admissions or aggressive behaviour during the various moon phases of the lunar cycle and the rest of the month. Variations by month followed no consistent pattern by gender, number of admissions, the year of study or a combination of these factors. The results of the study show that contrary to popular belief there is no scientific basis to support the view that the moon's phases play a significant role in an increase of first admissions or readmissions to the psychiatric hospital or that the phases of the moon predispose the mentally ill to violence or aggressive behaviour (AU)