Effect of lunar cycle on temporal variation in cardiopulmonary arrest in seven emergency departments during 11 years.

Eur J Emerg Med. 2003 Sep;10(3):225-8.
Alves DW, Allegra JR, Cochrane DG, Cable G.

Emergency Department, Morristown Memorial Hospital, 100 Madison Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA. hvngchstpn@aol.com

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the phase of the full and new moon on the variation in the number of daily cardiopulmonary resuscitations. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a computerized billing database of emergency department visits in a cohort of seven northern New Jersey (USA) emergency departments. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients seen by emergency department physicians over an 11-year period (1 January 1988 to 31 December 1998). We determined the timing of full and new moon days from the National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration website. INTERVENTIONS: Time series regression estimated the independent effect of full and new moon days on the daily variation in cardiopulmonary resuscitations. Tests of statistical significance were made at alpha=0.05. RESULTS: A total of 2 370 233 emergency department visits were made during the 4018-day period of study. A total of 6827 had an emergency department diagnosis of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We found no significant difference in the occurrence of cardiopulmonary resuscitations during the full moon (P=0.97). On average there were 6.5% fewer cardiopulmonary resuscitations during new moon days (P=0.02; 95% confidence interval 1.3-11.7%). CONCLUSION: Contrary to the traditional belief that more cardiopulmonary resuscitations occur during the full moon, we were unable to identify a significant effect during full moon days. However, there were on average 6.5% fewer cardiopulmonary resuscitations during new moon days than other days.

Cas Lek Cesk. 1997 Mar 19;136(6):174-80. Related Articles, Links

[Chronobiology of human aggression]

[Article in Czech]

Sitar J.

Interni oddeleni NsP, Brno-venkov.

BACKGROUND: Violence is an urgent problem concerning society as a whole. If chronobiological changes of human aggressiveness existed, it would be possible to foresee them and when an increased incidence is expected it would be perhaps possible to use preventive measures. METHODS AND RESULTS: The author processed data on 2447 aggressive acts of violence and 1028 completed suicides (aggression against oneself) on the territory of the former South Moravian region according to a weekly, annual and lunar rhythm and in relation to sudden climatic changes. The most remarkable finding is that the impulsive bodily harm (usually without economic or sexual motivation) is very closely associated with sudden climatic changes, while burglary and rape do not depend on climatic changes and their frequency correlates with the semilunar rhythm (there are two peaks during lunation), similarly as the frequency of sudden cardiovascular deaths. In suicides the frequency changes, with certain exceptions, similarly as the incidence of impulsive intentional bodily assault. In general close to the phase of full moon aggressiveness is significantly reduced and not increased, as was and still is believed by mistake, based on few observations and impressions. CONCLUSIONS: The assessed periodicities differentiate types of aggressive behaviour, prove the possibility of prediction of an increase of the mean incidence and provide thus a basis for estimation of the time and type of increased aggressiveness. It is thus possible to introduce preventive measures.

J Clin Psychiatry. 1978 May;39(5):385-92. Related Articles, Links

Human aggression and the lunar synodic cycle.

Lieber AL.

Data on five aggressive and/or violent human behaviors were examined by computer to determine whether a relationship exists between the lunar syndoic cycle and human aggression. Homicides, suicides, fatal traffic accidents, aggravated assaults and psychiatric emergency room visits occurring in Dade County, Florida all show lunar periodicities. Homicides and aggravated assaults demonstrate statistically significant clustering of cases around full moon. Psychiatric emergency room visits cluster around first quarter and shows a significantly decreased frequency around new and full moon. The suicide curve shows correlations with both aggravated assaults and fatal traffic accidents, suggesting a self-destructive component for each of these behaviors. The existence of a biological rhythm of human aggression which resonates with the lunar synodic cycle is postulated.

J Affect Disord. 1999 Apr;53(1):99-106. Related Articles, Links

The moon and madness reconsidered.

Raison CL, Klein HM, Steckler M.

Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, University of California-Los Angeles, 90024-1759, USA. craison@mednet.ucla.edu

Belief that the full moon is associated with psychiatric disturbance persists despite 50 years research showing no association. This article traces the historical roots of belief in the power of the moon to cause disorders the mind, especially insanity and epilepsy. Putative mechanisms of lunar action are critiqued. It is proposed that modern findings showing lack of lunar effect can be reconciled with pre-modern beliefs in the moon's power through a mechanism of sleep deprivation. Prior to the advent of modern lighting the moon was a significant source of nocturnal illumination that affected sleep-wake cycle, tending to cause sleep deprivation around the time of full moon. This partial sleep deprivation would have been sufficient to induce mania/hypomania in susceptible bipolar patients and seizures in patients with seizure disorders. The advent of modern lighting attenuated this lunar effect, especially in modern urban areas, where most 20th century studies of lunar effects on the mind have been conducted. The hypothesis presented in this article is open to empirical validation or falsification. Potential tests for the sleep-deprivation hypothesis of lunar action are discussed.
BMJ. 2000 Dec 23-30;321(7276):1559-61. Related Articles, Links

Do animals bite more during a full moon? Retrospective observational analysis.

Bhattacharjee C, Bradley P, Smith M, Scally AJ, Wilson BJ.

Accident and Emergency Department, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford BD9 6RJ.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the incidence of animal bites increases at the time of a full moon. DESIGN: Retrospective observational analysis. SETTING: Accident and emergency department at a general hospital in an English city. SUBJECTS: 1621 consecutive patients, irrespective of age and sex. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of patients who attended an accident and emergency department during 1997 to 1999 after being bitten by an animal. The number of bites in each day was compared with the lunar phase in each month. RESULTS: The incidence of animal bites rose significantly at the time of a full moon. With the period of the full moon as the reference period, the incidence rate ratio of the bites for all other periods of the lunar cycle was significantly lower (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The full moon is associated with a significant increase in animal bites to humans.

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1980 Aug 1;137(7):834-9. Related Articles, Links

Lunar and menstrual phase locking.

Cutler WB.

In a selected population of 312 women, prospective menses records were maintained during the autumn of 1977. Women whose menstrual cycle duration approaches the cycle duration of the earth's moon (29.5 days) tend to ovulate in the dark phase of the lunar period. The dark phase encompasses the half-cycle of the month from last quarter, through new moon, to first quarter. Women showing irregular menses also tended to ovulate during the dark phase of the lunar period.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1986;65(1):45-8. Related Articles, Links

The regulation of menstrual cycle and its relationship to the moon.

Law SP.

A synchronous relationship between the menstrual cycle and lunar rhythm was confirmed by: Investigative data: Among the 826 female volunteers with a normal menstrual cycle, aged between 16 and 25 years, a large proportion of menstruations occurred around the new moon (28.3%), while at other times during the lunar month the proportion of menstruations occurring ranged between 8.5-12.6%; the difference was significant (p less than 0.01). Laboratory findings: The 6-hydroxymelatonin levels in the urina sanguinis of 3 female volunteers reached their zenith prior to and during menstruation, gradually declining to their nadir during ovulation. The difference in 6-hydroxymelatonin between menstruation and ovulation was significant (p less than 0.01). Two of these three volunteers had their zenith in the period of the new moon and nadir 3-4 days prior to the full moon respectively. Clinical experience: The lunar-menses-regulatory therapy in treatment of Nephropenic secondary amenorrhea revealed 4 clinical cure, 5 marked effect, 8 menogogue and 3 ineffect out of 20 cases.

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2002 Nov;19(11):539-40. Related Articles, Links

Do lunar cycles influence in vitro fertilization results?

Weigert M, Kaali SG, Kulin S, Feichtinger W.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to investigate the lunar influence on IVF-ET outcomes. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1999 we have completed 7572 preprogrammed IVF-ET treatment cycles with the same stimulation protocol in two outpatient units. (Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary) Multiple regression (SAS; proc Logistic) and two separate analyses were performed on pregnancy rates using a harmonic sinoidal trend based on the synodic and anomalistic lunar cycles respectively. RESULTS: The overall pregnancy rate was 30.9%. The amplitude of harmonic sinoidal, trend for the synodic lunar cycles was chi2 = 1.63,2d.f., p = 0.44 and chi2 = 6.27,2d.f., p = 0.044 for the anomalistic moon periods. For the anomalistic lunar months the amplitude of harmonic sinoidal trend was borderline in terms of higher pregnancy rates with the moon in Perigee. CONCLUSION: The cause of seasonal changes in IVF-ET outcomes is probably very complex. Our results indicate that lunar influence may only be one of the contributing factors. Further studies are needed to clarify unexplained fluctuations of pregnancy outcomes.

Soc Biol. 1981 Spring-Summer;28(1-2):75-80. Related Articles, Links

A lunar effect on fertility.

Criss TB, Marcum JP.

PIP: Data from individual birth records for 140,000 live births occurring in New York City in 1968 provide evidence that the folkloric beliefs in the moon's influence on human reproduction found in many societies may have a factual basis. Records were arranged sequentially by day of occurrence and time series were constructed for total births and for 5 categories of spontaneous births: total, female, male, black, and white. A Fourier spectrum was calculated for each time series. Cross amplitude spectra were computed for 2 pairs of independent time series, male and female and black and white births, to minimize the effects of weekly variation, and cross correlations were calculated between a time series generated for the study a sine wave at exactly the frequency of the lunar cycle with its maximum value assigned to the 3rd quarter) and each of the other 6 series. A small but systematic variation of births over a period of 29.53 days, the length of the lunar cycle, with peak fertility at 3rd quarter, was found in the 4 independent time series and remained after weekly variation was removed. The finding itself provides little guidance as to the timing or nature of the moon's influence, but recent research suggests a connection between menstrual regularity and light. The timing of the fertility peak at 3rd quarter suggests that the period of decreasing illumination immediately after full moon may precipitate ovulation.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1998 Mar;77(1):47-50. Related Articles, Links

Does lunar position influence the time of delivery? A statistical analysis.

Ghiandoni G, Secli R, Rocchi MB, Ugolini G.

Institute of Biomathematics, Urbino University, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between lunar position and the day of delivery; to investigate the synodic distribution of spontaneous deliveries, especially in relation to the presence of a full moon. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 1248 spontaneous full-term deliveries in three-year period (36 lunar months), setted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Civil Hospital, Fano (Marche, Italy), using circular statistics techniques. RESULTS: A connection between the distribution of spontaneous full-term deliveries and the lunar month was found. The effect of the phases of the moon seems to be particularly relevant in multiparae and plurigravidae; in these cases, the mean day of delivery corresponds to the first or second day after the full moon. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper the effect of lunar phases on the time of delivery is shown. This influence seems to be especially relevant in the case of multiparae and plurigravidae. Nevertheless, it is too weak to allow for prediction regarding the days with the highest frequency of deliveries.

BMJ. 1989 Dec 23-30;299(6715):1560-2. Related Articles, Links

Urinary retention and the lunisolar cycle: is it a lunatic phenomenon?

Payne SR, Deardon DJ, Abercrombie GF, Carlson GL.

Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth.

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether a relation between urinary retention and temporal rhythms exists. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of patients presenting over three years. SETTING--Urology departments in two hospitals. PATIENTS--815 Patients presenting as emergency admissions with urinary retention and requiring immediate decompression of the bladder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Calendar date of each admission to determine circadian, monthly, and seasonal periodicity. RESULTS--No association was found between urinary retention and circadian, monthly, or seasonal rhythms. A significantly higher (p less than 0.001) incidence of urinary retention was observed during the new moon in comparison with other phases of the lunar cycle. CONCLUSIONS--Urinary retention is periodic in nature. This should be considered when the workload of a specialist urological department is organised.

Klin Med (Mosk). 2003;81(6):19-23. Related Articles, Links

[Monthly rhythms of exacerbations and debuts of some diseases and sudden death]

[Article in Russian]

Bilenko NP.

A chronobiological analysis covering 355 adults and children with different diseases, cases of sudden deaths due to blood coagulation causes has revealed monthly hyper- and hypocoagulation periods. The hypercoagulation periods in which life-threatening thrombosis may occur were observed 8 days close to the new moon and 7 days after it as well as in the second phase of a monthly biorhythm. In the first phase of a monthly biorhythm there is a tendency to hemorrhage. In these days more attention should be given to patients who may develop hemorrhage to prevent threat to their life and sudden death.

Psychiatry Res. 2003 Aug 30;120(1):43-51. Related Articles, Links

Increasing seasonality of suicide in Australia 1970-1999.

Rock D, Greenberg DM, Hallmayer JF.

Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, Locked Bag No. 1, Claremont, Western Australia, 6910, Australia. danny@ccrn.uwa.edu.au

Previous studies have found that rates of suicide have a distinct annual rhythm with a peak in spring. Two recent European studies, however, have found that the amplitude of this rhythm has decreased over time. The purpose of this study was to examine whether such effects are found in Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics data on all suicides in Australia 1970-1999 were analysed by spectral analysis. We found that suicide, violent suicide and suicide by males are seasonal and that the seasonal amplitude has increased over time. Males who use violent methods determine the seasonal effect. These results support previous findings that suicide and particularly violent suicide have a characteristic seasonal rhythm. However, the progressive increase in the amplitude of this rhythm over time in Australia is in direct contrast to other European findings. We suggest that this may be related to differences in patterns of anti-depressant use and also the effect of migration on the number of seasonally vulnerable individuals in Australia.

Bibliografia segnalata da Giorgio Bianciardi, Ricercatore presso l'Università degli Studi di Siena