Moon not related to human psychology

MONTREAL

There is no relationship between the moon’s phases and people’s psychological problems, according to a study done on a number of patients in hospitals. AFP Photo

Contrary to popular belief, there is no connection between lunar phases and the incidence of psychological problems, Science Daily has reported. This is the conclusion reached by a team of researchers directed by Professor Genevieve Belleville of Universite Laval’s School of Psychology after having examined the relationship between the moon’s phases and the number of patients who show up at hospital emergency rooms experiencing psychological problems.

To determine whether the widespread 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 revealed that a sizeable number of these patients suffered from panic attacks, anxiety and 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. There was one exception, however; anxiety disorders were 32 percent less frequent during the last lunar quarter.