Full moon and lunar eclipse change tide of human emotions.

[alexch (Alex)]

Hi all,

Just stumbled upon another piece of brilliant journalism in by Candace Sutton from news.com.au today's homepage:
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/rel...-1226628493355

"While scientists have conducted little formal research about mood swings related to the tidal pull of the moon's phases, workers in institutions like hospitals and prisons notice that patients and inmates become more agitated and restless during full moon phases and the latter may be more prone to violence and self harm."

What utter nonsense! A simple "Google Scholar" search reveals a wealth of papers from respected peer-reviewed medical and astronomy journals, including research done in Australia:

"Results of effect-size estimates show that phases of the moon accounted for no more than 1% of the variance in activities usually termed lunacy. Alleged relations between phases of the moon and behavior can be traced to inappropriate analyses, a failure to take other (e.g., weekly) cycles into account, and a willingness to accept any departure from chance as evidence of a lunar effect. "
Rotton, J., & Kelly, I. W. (1985). Much ado about the full moon: A meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research. Psychological Bulletin, 97(2), 286.

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"Objective: It is commonly believed that the full moon exerts an influence on violence and aggression in psychiatric settings. The literature to date is contentious. This study used a robust methodology to examine the hypothesis that there was an increased frequency of violent and aggressive behaviour among hospitalised psychiatric clients at the time of the full moon.

Method: Prospective data were collected in five inpatient psychiatric settings across the Northern Sydney Area Health Service. Morrison’s hierarchy of violence and aggression was used to rate behaviour. Lunar phases were clearly defined and Poisson regression used to examine relationships between lunar phase and violence. Extraneous temporal variation was considered.

Results: No significant relationship was found between total violence and aggression or level of violence and aggression and any phase of the moon."

Owen, C., Tarantello, C., Jones, M., & Tennant, C. (1998). Lunar cycles and violent behaviour. Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 32(4), 496-499.
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"There does not appear to be a reliable and significant association between the phase of the moon and incidence of completed suicide."

Lester, D., Brockopp, G. W., & Priebe, K. (1969). Association between a full moon and completed suicide. Psychological Reports, 25(2), 598-598.
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"Objective: To assess whether dog bites requiring hospital admission occur more at the full moon.

Design: Review of dates of admission for dog bites to accident and emergency departments, June 1997 to June 1998, compared with dates of the full moon.

Setting: All public hospitals in Australia.
Main outcome measures: Admissions for dog bites.
Results: 12 peak clusters of admissions were unrelated to the time of the full moon.

Conclusion: Dog bites are no more frequent on full moons than at any other time of the month. Sceptics rejoice."

Chapman, S., & Morrell, S. (2000). Barking mad? Another lunatic hypothesis bites the dust. BMJ, 321(7276), 1561-1563.
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I know only one group of people that are certainly affected by the full Moon - deep space observers and astro-photographers. There are documented cases of increased astro-photon deficiency and withdrawal symptoms, that seem to follow the lunar cycle and peak around the full Moon.

Cheers,
Alex

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by alexch

There are documented cases of increased astro-photon deficiency and withdrawal symptoms, that seem to follow the lunar cycle and peak around the full Moon.

Including self-harm?

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by alexch

"While scientists have conducted little formal research about mood swings related to the tidal pull of the moon's phases, workers in institutions like hospitals and prisons notice that patients and inmates become more agitated and restless during full moon phases and the latter may be more prone to violence and self harm."

And her source?.....Sydney astrologer, Marc Laurenson!



Malcolm

[pluto (Hugh)]

"journalist" and "news.com.au" should never be seen in the same sentance.

...D'oh!

[2stroke (Jay)]

They just get more agitated because they can't sleep because of the moons shine, its that simple. Any sleep specialist will tell you this and it also effects rem cycle which leads to mood changes, its all science no magical crack fairies bringing you mystical beams from the gods. If you read up about the sleeping cycle as well as disorders it will all make sense.

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

I spent 5 years working in Police Communications and Despatch and can vouch for the fact the full moon brings out the crazies. The increase in the number of unusual incidents during full moon was quite obvious.
The local Pizza Hut even used to make lots of small pizzas to give away to the Lunies to avoid any untoward interactions.

Kunama, I am not doubting what you say, however human mind can be selective in what it chooses to remember and forget. It is possible that if something odd happened around the full Moon then it is more likely to be remembered because of the full Moon association.

Because this argument comes up rather often, I studied the papers from different countries and found that when the hard data is collected and analysed over sufficiently long time (1 - 2 years) then most researches agree that the variation is within statistical error and there is no evidence supporting an increased number of psychiatric or criminal incidents.

Cheers,
Alex

[Jen]

Mmmm interesting so next full moon I'm going to run around like a crazy person to get a free pizza

[alexch (Alex)]

Got to laugh:

"The moon affects the tides on earth," he said.
"As the earth spins on its axis, the moon has a pull on the tides and on people, who are mostly made up of water.
"As the moon builds momentum and increases fullness, people start feeling edgy as the pressure builds up in their head.
"Because of the emotional intensity of Scorpio as a sign, this particular full moon will put people's emotions on a knife edge. Many people will feel things more passionately."

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Abell himself said: "Lunar pull is no more than the weight of a flea" because the earth's pull is 5,012 times as strong as the moon's...

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However reasonable Lieber's (1978b) biological tide theory (effects of Moon's gravitational pull on the human organism) might appear at first glance, it has been dismissed by astronomers (Abell, 1979), biologists (Criss & Marcum, 1981), physicists (Culver & lanna, 1979), and psychologists (Campbell, 1982). As these and other critics pointed out, the earth's pull is 5,012 times as strong as the moon's. Lunar pull is no more than the weight of a flea (Abell, 1979) or a drop of sweat (Winkless & Browning, 1975).

Rotton, J., & Kelly, I. W. (1985). Much ado about the full moon: A meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research. Psychological Bulletin, 97(2), 286.

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by Jen

Mmmm interesting so next full moon I'm going to run around like a crazy person to get a free pizza

How much of a change in behaviour is that Jen?

Mmmmmmmmmmm ....................... pizzzzzzzaaaaaaaa !

(Sometimes I think these conversations drift tend to get too serious.)

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Kunama

How much of a change in behaviour is that Jen?

Mmmmmmmmmmm ....................... pizzzzzzzaaaaaaaa !

(Sometimes I think these conversations drift tend to get too serious.)

yeah your right that is my usual weekend behaviour

[simmo]

Hello,

A while back when I was younger and did outreach for my church we would often open our homes to people in trouble. One lady that stayed with my girlfriend and I was schizophrenic and would definately suffer episodes around the full moon. Not sure about the new moon though? She's has made a full recovery thankfully and now leads a normal life.

cheerz
Simmo

[Moon (James)]

You are a voice of reason in a very messed up and confused world

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by alexch

I know only one group of people that are certainly affected by the full Moon - deep space observers and astro-photographers. There are documented cases of increased astro-photon deficiency and withdrawal symptoms, that seem to follow the lunar cycle and peak around the full Moon.

That about sums it all up. Clouds and full moon can turn a deprived astrophotographer in a beast trolling the forums for preys.

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

That about sums it all up. Clouds and full moon can turn a deprived astrophotographer in a beast trolling the forums for preys.

The Moon is waning now and I feel much better

[OICURMT]

I'm more curious as to why you would be reading the "Lifestyle > Relationships" catagory of news.com.au...




OIC!

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by OICURMT

I'm more curious as to why you would be reading the "Lifestyle > Relationships" catagory of news.com.au...

OIC!

You shouldn't be surprised - it was the full Moon after all!
(it was on the frontpage too...)

[Rob_K]

Originally Posted by alexch

Got to laugh:

"As the moon builds momentum and increases fullness, people start feeling edgy as the pressure builds up in their head.

Wow, why weren't we told about this 'momentum' building?! Interesting how many people somehow equate phase with gravity. Best look at lunar perigee! And what about the double-whammy of New Moon, with the Moon's gravity adding to that of the Sun? Surely that's where the lunacy should lie if there's anything to the tidal theory of emotional response?

I know lots of people who believe (know) with absolute certainty that the Full Moon negatively influences human behaviour. What about a 3/4 full Moon? Do you go 3/4 mad? A half-full Moon, half mad? If moonlight does influence behaviour there should be a full monthly cycle, building to a peak at Full Moon and bottoming out at New Moon. Not one single night's madness!

Still, like Jen, I'm half inclined to go along with it if it gets me a free pizza...

Cheers -

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

After working in a busy emergency department for over two years my experience is you don't need any Moon to bring out the crazies- they are always around. I'm inclined to the "we probably remember it more if there is a full Moon" sort of thinking, because when ever you come across someone slightly deranged, someone else will say "must be a full moon"
What about the phases of Venus?
Graz

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by Rob_K

I know lots of people who believe (know) with absolute certainty that the Full Moon negatively influences human behaviour. What about a 3/4 full Moon? Do you go 3/4 mad? A half-full Moon, half mad? If moonlight does influence behaviour there should be a full monthly cycle, building to a peak at Full Moon and bottoming out at New Moon. Not one single night's madness!

Cheers -

Rob, I found a relevant article in "mental health practice december 2004 vol 8 no 4". It is available as a pdf file here.

In the second part there are some interesting statistics and plausible explanations as to why it is so.

A few relevant paragraphs below:

"The belief that the incidence of crises is correlated with lunar phase provides the worker with a sense of control and alleviates anxiety
...
Arguably, the more stressful an environment in which an individual works, the greater the likelihood is that he will make illusory correlations. Individuals link the full moon with abnormal events in a cause-effect chain, facilitated by the use of illusory correlation, by which mechanism-biased interpretations of behaviour by clinicians lead to the development and maintenance of erroneous perceptions and stereotypes are developed
...
A full moon is observed and a difficult shift is anticipated. Alternatively, in the middle of a stressful shift the full moon is observed and is considered to be evidence to corroborate the fact that this has been responsible for the stressful nature of the shift."
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"In the present study 51 per cent of the sample of nurses
expressed a belief in the lunar effect
...
Knowledge about lunar phase: 26 (53 per cent) respondents
stated that they usually did not know the current lunar phase,
17 (35 per cent) that they usually did and 6 (12 per cent) that
they sometimes knew. However, 42 respondents (86 per cent)
were unable to correctly identify the lunar phase on the date
of survey completion and only 7 (14 per cent) correctly did so"




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Cheers,
Alex