A study conducted by a group of researchers at the School of Psychology from Université Laval repels the myth according to which there is a deep connection between moon phases and humans mental state.
The study, led by Professor Genevieve Belleville and published in the scientific journal General Hospital Psychiatry, consists of the observation of 771 people brought at the emergency rooms at Sacré-Coeur Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis in Montreal with psychological dysfunctions.
Research has been conducted between March 2005 and April 2008. It centered on patients that came with pain chests impossible to explain in medical terms, Daily Mail reports.
Examinations have shown that these pains were caused by anxiety, panic attacks or suicidal intentions.
Placing these disorders into the corresponding lunar phase, according to the time when they occurred, researchers concluded that lunar phases did not influence these psychological manifestations, except from anxiety, which was 32% lower during the last quarter of the moon.
“This may be coincidental or due to factors we did not take into account,” explained Dr. Belleville.
“But one thing is certain: we observed no full-moon or new-moon effect on psychological problems.”
The study combats an idea largely spread among both common people and nurses and doctors as well, according to which lunar phases determine people's mental state.
“We hope our results will encourage health professionals to put that idea to rest,” declared Dr. Belleville.
“Otherwise, this misperception could, on the one hand, color 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.”
Over time, there have been various compartmental issues related to the full moon periods. Some of them are fairly phantasmagorical. As an example, can serve the rumors about George W. Bush winning the US presidential elections in 2000 due to the full moon that affected people's judgment.