AbstractHistorically, there has been a perceived association between the moon and human biology and behaviour that can be traced back to at least Roman times. The idea that the moon can in some way influence human biology or behaviour is a phenomena that has now come to known as the “Transylvanian effect” in the academic literature. Many mental health professionals continue to hold the belief that lunar cycles can alter human behaviour despite contradictory evidence, but may also be due to personal, ethical, aesthetic, and intuitive ways of knowing. However, studies that have reported positive findings have been shown to be methodologically flawed, inconclusive, or confounded with other variables.Contrary to this belief in a Transylvanian effect are more recent studies refuting any association, relationship, or correlation between lunar cycles and human biology or behaviour.The vast majority of research relating to this phenomenon has been carried out retrospectively utilising secondary data (German J Psychiatry 2006,9:123-127).
The relationship between the use of seclusion and the lunar cycles was tested by Mason (1997). He argued that if the Transylvanian effect is to be supported then there must be a relationship between the lunar cycles and the use of seclusion in mental health facilities, where the use of seclusion was viewed as the predominant strategy for the control and management of violence and aggression in patients. A retrospective design was utilised to examine the lunar phases in relation to the number of episodes in which seclusion was used as a control and management strategy. The study took place in a forensic hospital that caters specifically to a dangerous and violent patient population where there was relatively high levels of violence and use of seclusion. No significant correlation, either on the day of the full moon (r=0.21, n= 12, p<0.05) or in the three day period before and after the full noted (r=0.14, n=12, P=0.06) was found in this study.
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Owen et al (1998) employed a robust methodology to examine the hypotheses that there was an increased frequency of violent and aggressive behaviour among hospitalised psychiatric clients at the time of the full moon. This study was carried out prospectively in five inpatient psychiatric units across Northern Sydney Area Health Service. Morrisons (1992) 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 also considered and no significant relationship was found between total violence and aggression or level of violence and aggression and any phase of the moon (Owen et al, 1998). Lunar cycle and psychiatric illness
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Juxtaposed to this evidence and the prevailing belief in a Transylvanian effect amongst mental health care workers are studies refuting any association between lunar cycles and abnormal behaviour. Wilkinson et al (1997) examined general practice consultation rates for anxiety and depression and showed that no statistically significant lunar effect was evident. Furthermore, they concluded that the moon had little influence on when individuals consulted their general practitioner with anxiety or depression, (Wilkinson et al., 1997). Similarly, Neale & Colledge (2000) were unable to show significant effect from the full moon on general practice consultations for specific morbidity, in particular mental illness in general, anxiety, or depression. This study was further unable to produce a meaningful model demonstrating a lunar effect for weekends and bank holidays. The rate of consultations with community based psychiatric services over a ten-year period was assessed by Amaddeo et al
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. (1997). This comprehensive study did not support the theory
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