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Effect of Full moon and New moon on Psychiatric illnesses
Dr. Aziz Ahmed Quadri,Director of Mental Health Center,Aurangabad, M.S.
Dr. Sneha Karmani,DNB 2nd year, Mental Health Center, Aurangabad, M.S.
Introduction:
The superstitions about the moon’s effect on life on
earth have existed for centuries.
We often hear someone say, “Is there a full moon
around?”
As an educated person one would rubbish such a
thought, or simply get amazed, and move on.
Psychiatry & the moon:Often in psychiatric hospitals there are anecdotal
evidences of someone getting violent on a full
moon, or disappearing in a fugue or becoming
withdrawn on a new moon.
There are several incidences when the patients
themselves or their family members complain of
fluctuations in their mood or behavior around full
moon or new moon time.
The Lunar EffectThe word ‘lunatic’ was frequently used to denote
mentally ill persons once upon a time, is derived
after the Roman goddess of moon, Luna.
The influence of the moon on behavior has been
called "The Lunar Effect" or "The Transylvania
Effect."
The original meaning of the phrase new moon was
the first visible crescent of the Moon, after
conjunction with the Sun.
The astronomical new moon is sometimes known as
the dark moon , thus on new moon day, the non-
illuminated, i.e. dark side of the Moon faces towards
Earth.
New
Moon
The new moon marks the beginning of the month in
lunar calendars such as the Muslim calendar, and in
lunisolar calendars such as the Hebrew, Hindu, and
Buddhist calendars.
People generally wait for new moon to start new
works.
New
Moon
Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the
Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the
Sun.
Full Moons are traditionally associated with
temporal insomnia, insanity (hence the terms
lunacy and lunatic) and various "magical
phenomena" such as lycanthropy.
FULL
MOON
The full moon has been linked to crime,
suicide, mental illness, disasters, accidents,
birthrates, fertility, and werewolves, among
other things.
Some people even
buy and sell stocks according to phases of the
moon
.
FULL
MOON
Earlier times:
Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman historian
Pliny the Elder suggested that the brain was the
“moistest” organ in the body and thereby most
susceptible to the pernicious influences of the moon,
which triggers the tides.
Belief in the “lunar lunacy effect,” or “Transylvania
effect,” persisted in Europe through the Middle Ages,
when humans were widely reputed to transmogrify
into werewolves or vampires during a full moon.
Present times:Even today many people think the mystical powers of the full
moon induce erratic behaviors, psychiatric hospital admissions,
suicides, homicides, emergency room calls, traffic accidents, fights
at professional hockey games, dog bites and all manner of strange
events.
One survey revealed that 45 percent of college students believe
moonstruck humans are prone to unusual behaviors.
Another surveys suggest that mental health professionals
may be still more likely than laypeople to hold this
conviction.
In 2007 several police departments in the U.K. even added
officers on full-moon nights in an effort to cope with
presumed higher crime rates.
• Lunacy and the Full Moon: Does a full moon really trigger strange behavior? By Scott O. Lilienfeld and Hal Arkowitz | February 9, 2009 | 52; Scientific American Mind.
Spiritual science:
There are some finer differences between the effect
of new moon and full moon on man.
Spiritual science: Finer differences between the effect of new moon and full moon on man.
Full moon effect
Adverse more on the physical body
more apparent,
Therefore more distressing.
New moon effect
More on the mind.
More intangible
(subtle).
Between new moon and full moon the effects of new
moon are less noticeable to us.
Ion theory
Ions have an effect on body’s hormones and chemical
messengers which affect the brain.
All the air you breathe has some quantity of Aero-Ions.
Ions are charged particles in the air (100-1000/cmm).
Some ions are negatively charged (Negative Ions) and
some positively charged (Positive Ions).
Ion theory
Ion Scientists have determined over and over that an
imbalance in the ratio between Positive and Negative Ions
has a profound effect on both your mental and physical
well being.
If you breathe large amounts of positive ions without an
equal amount of negative ions, you will actually become
lethargic and in some cases sick (high positive ion
concentrations in the air are associated with the full moon).
Air containing more negative ions and fewer positive
ions has shown to be beneficial and without side
effects.
Hormonal reactions to increased positive ions in the
air (Full Moon Effect) cause hyperactivity,
depression, violent behavior, road rage, higher
occurrences of migraines and asthma. Even bees are
known to sting without provocation on higher
positive ion ratios.
75% of the general population react favorably to
negative ions but are adversely affected by positive
ions, while the other 25% react in the opposite way,
finding higher positive ion days euphoric and higher
negative ion days boring. These people compensate
for the stress caused by positive ions with sufficient
adrenaline production.
In other words, 75% of the general population goes
into different ranges of depression and 25% become
hyperactive. We are all affected somewhat by higher
positive ion ratios. There are no side effects from
negative ions
Moon’s effect on waterThe full moon’s supposed effects on behavior arise
from its influence on water as the human body is ~80
%water (Miami psychiatrist Arnold Lieber) perhaps the
moon works its mischievous magic by somehow
disrupting the alignment of water molecules in the
nervous system.
But there are at least three reasons why this explanation
doesn’t hold true.
1. the gravitational effects of the moon are far too
minuscule to generate any meaningful effects on brain
activity, let alone behavior. a mosquito sitting on our
arm exerts a more powerful gravitational pull on us
than the moon does.
2. The moon’s gravitational force affects only open
bodies of water, such as oceans and lakes, but not
contained sources of water, such as the human brain.
3. The gravitational effect of the moon is just as potent
during new moons—when the moon is invisible to us
—as it is during full moons.
To find out the correlation between phases of the moon
and symptoms of psychiatric patients.
A total of 200 psychiatric in-patients and out-patients were
interviewed.
Methodology:
History was reviewed in brief. Patients were assigned to
ICD-10 broad categories as per the diagnosis.
Reported change in symptoms/severity with respect to full
moon and new moon or peri- full moon and peri-new moon
was recorded as per the pre-designed questionnaire.
The questionnaire consisted of basic socio-demographic
data, along with questions probing into the details of
diagnosis, duration of illness and treatment.
It later included questions on effect of full moon and new
moon as perceived by patients and their family members.
Age group
People over 50
years were more
likely to hold such
beliefs than
patients in other
age groups.
Age group
Yes respondents
No/ don’t know
No. of respondents
10-20 15 (37.5%) 25 40
21-30 26 (32.5%) 54 80
31-40 15 (28.84%) 37 52
41-50 4 (22.22%) 14 18
50-70 4 (40%) 6 10
total 64 136 200
Sex:Sex Yes No/
don’t know
No. of respondents
Male 28 (20.74%)
107 135
Female
36 (42.35%)
49 85
Total 64 136 200
Females were twice as
likely as males to believe
in lunar effect.
Marital status: Marital status
Yes No/ don’t know
No. of respondents
divorced 1 20% 4 5
Engaged 1 24% 3 4
married 44 34.92%
82 126
Separated 3 33.33%
6 9
unmarried 15 30% 35 50
widow 0 0% 6 6
Total 64 136 200
There wasn’t much
difference between
marital status of
candidates and belief in
lunar effect.
Education:Education Yes No/
Don’t knowNo. of respondents
Illiterate 10 55.55% 8 18
Pre-primary 0 0% 1 1
Primary 8 34.78% 15 23
Secondary 29 31.52% 63 92
Higher secondary
10 27.02% 27 37
Graduation 6 28.57 15 21
Post-graduation
1 12.5% 7 8
Total 64 136 200
Prevalence was
highest in the
illiterate, with
decrease in such
beliefs seen with
increasing education
levels
Religion:Religion No of yes
respondentsNo/ don’t know
No of respondents
Buddhist 3 23.07% 10 13
Hindu 23 33.33% 46 69
Christian 0 0% 1 1
Muslim 38 32.47% 79 117
Others 0 0% 0 0
total 64 136 200
Such belief was
slightly more
common in Hindus
than Muslims,
followed by
Buddhists.
Occupation:
Occupation No. of Yes respondents
No/ don’t know
No. of respondents
Business 2 16.66% 10 12
Farming 8 34.78% 15 23
Labour 13 50% 13 26
Professional 1 14.28% 6 7
Retired 0 0% 2 2
Unemployed 4 26.66% 11 15
housewife 30 31.91% 64 94
student 5 31.25 11 16
others 1 20% 4 5
total 64 136 200
Patients from labor
class were more likely
to have such a belief,
followed by farmers,
housewives and
students.
Residence:
Patients from rural
population were
slightly more likely
than urbanites to
believe in the lunar
effect.
Residence Yes respondents
No/ don’t know
No. of respondents
Rural 40 35.08% 74 114
Urban 24 27.90% 62 86
Total 64 136 200
Type of family: There was not
much difference
between belief in
lunar effect in
patients coming
from joint or
nuclear families.
Type of Family
No. of Respondents
No/ don’t know
No. of Respondents
Nuclear 29 32.22% 61 90
Joint 35 31.81% 75 110
Total 64 136 200
Social class:
Patients from below
poverty line had
highest percentage
of such beliefs,
followed by lower
middle class and
poor patients
Social Class
No. Of yes Respondents
No/ don’t know
No. Of Respondents
Upper High
0 0% 0 0
High 0 0% 1 1
Upper middle
7 18.42% 31 38
Lower middle
34 35.41% 62 96
Poor 20 33.33% 40 60
BPL 3 60% 2 5
Total 64 136 200
Diagnostic categories:
Majority patients
with substance-
related disorders
held such beliefs,
followed by
childhood/
adolescent
disorders, followed
by schizophrenia
and neurotic
disorders
Code ICD-10 Category No. of Yes Respondents
No/ don’t know
No. of Respondents
F10-F19
Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use
5 71.42% 2 7
F20-F29
Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders
35
32.71% 72 107
F30-F39
Mood (affective) disorders
16
26.66% 44 60
F40-F48
Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders
7 31.81% 15 22
F50-F59
Behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors
0 0% 2 2
F90-F98
Behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence
1 50% 1 2
Total 64 136 200
Effect of moon
No of respondents
Yes 64No 103
Don’t know
33
Total 200
Difference noticed by: No. of Respondents
Patient 16
Family members/Care-givers 22
Both Patient & Care-givers 26
Total 64
Noticed fluctuation in emotion and behavior prior to illness
Most of the
patients noticed
the lunar effect
on their behavior/
emotion after
onset of their
illness
Noticed fluctuation in emotion and behavior prior to illness
No. of Respondents
Yes 6No 58Total 64
.
Duration of illness:
There was no
significant
difference
between duration of
illness and such
beliefs.
Duration of illness
No. of Respondents
No/ don’t know
No. of Respondents
Less than 6months
9 34.61%
17 26
>6months < 1year
8 32%
17 25
>1year < 3years
16 36.36%
28 44
>3 years 31 29.52%
74 105
Total 64 136 200
Regular on t/t and Follow up
People who were
not regular on T/t
and F/up were more
likely to hold such
beliefs.
Probably their belief
in same could
contribute to the
irregularity seen in
T/t
Regular on t/t and Follow up
Yes response
No/ Don’t know
No. of respondents
Yes 58 31.69%
125 183
No 6 35.29%
11 17
Total 64 136 200
Effect of T/t on symptoms
92% of patients
believed that
treatment had
decreased their
symptoms
Effect of t/t on symptoms
No. of Respondents
Increased with t/t
0
Decreased with t/t
59 (92.18%)
No effect of t/t on symptoms
3
This was patient’s first visit
2
Total 64
Whether symptoms were same or different?Most of them
perceived the same
symptoms as that
of their primary
psychiatric
symptomatology
during the full moon/
new moon.
Symptomsare
No. ofRespondents
Same 61Different 2Same, withnew/different
symptoms
1
Total 64
Frequency of perceived change
1/3rd reported a
change with every
cycle, 1/3rd with most
cycles and 1/3rd
patients with
occasional cycles
only.
Frequency of perceived change
No. of Respondents
Occasional cycles only 21
Most Cycles 21
Almost every lunar cycle
22
Total 64
Severity concurrent with the lunar phase:
100% patients (yes
responders)
believed symptom
severity increased
with full moon/ new
moon.
Severity as perceived by Yes Respondents
No. of Respondents
More Severe 64
No change 0
Total 64
Studies showing a positive correlation
18,495 records from patients admitted to a psychiatric
hospital in an 11-year period: admissions for
psychosis were highest during the new moon
and lowest during the full moon. [Reference:
Lunar madness: an empirical study (1977)]
25,568 psychiatric emergency room visits in a 13-
year period: visits increased near the first
quarter moon and a decreased around the new
moon and full moon. [Reference:
Human aggression and the lunar synodic cycle (1978)]
Psychologists, however, have found that
there is no strong evidence for effects on
human behavior around the time of a full
moon.
They find that studies are generally not
consistent, with some showing a positive
effect and others showing a negative
effect.
Kelly, Rotton, and Culver suspect four factors:
i. Media effects,
ii. Folklore and tradition,
iii. Misconceptions, and
iv. Cognitive biases.
v. A fifth factor should be considered, as well:
Communal reinforcement
The media perpetuate lunar myths.
Full moon and lunar effects; The Skeptic’s Dictionary.
76,065 calls to a crisis center in a 4-year
period: increased calls by females
during the new moon period;
decreased calls by males during the
new moon period. [Reference:
Sex difference in response to stress by lunar
month: a pilot study of four years' crisis-cal
l frequency.
(2003)]
Moonstruck! Does The Full Moon Influence Behavior? washington.edu/ neuroscience for kids
Why the association between craziness and the moon?
It is an ancient science that has not been
replaced with the newer theories.
The moon, however, holds no sway in the
scientific prospective of the world, but in
people’s minds,
It functions as such a key figure that it
would be foolish to say the full moon
completely and utterly lacks control over
events.
Instead of directly studying the moon’s
influence on the world, the power of
common belief should be investigated
When people feel the same way about
something, they create a large enough
mental influence that they can sometimes
will the event they imagine into a reality.
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