Find Your Medication |
Find Your Medication |
Study finds no correlation between lunar cycles and psychological problems
The strange behavior of your weird uncle or nosy neighbor is not caused by the moon, as a new study by researchers at Universite Laval's School of Psychology in Quebec has found no correlation between psychological problems and the lunar phases.
The strange behavior of your weird uncle or nosy neighbor is not caused by the moon, as a new study by researchers at Universite Laval's School of Psychology in Quebec has found no correlation between psychological problems and the lunar phases. Vampires, werewolves and … babies? From the study's data, an overwhelming 80 percent of nurses and 64 percent of doctors believe that different lunar phases affect a patient's mental health, a myth the team of researchers hope to disprove for good. "We hope our results will encourage health professionals to put that idea to rest," said Genevieve Belleville, Ph.D., professor of psychology. "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." The study examined roughly 770 patients who visited the emergency rooms of Montreals Sacre-Coeur Hospital and Hotel-Dieu de Levis between the year 2005 and 2008. Of the majority of subjects that were admitted with chest pains with diagnosable cause of origin, many suffered from panic attacks, anxiety disorders and depression leading to suicidal thoughts. However, a strange correlation "This may be coincidental or due to factors we did not take into account," explained Belleville. "But one thing is certain: We observed no full-moon or new moon effect of psychological problems." According to the most recent survey by the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 36 million people paid for health services to treat mental conditions in 2006, and the total cost of this health care was almost $58 billion. This study is just another step to disprove the idea that psychological problems arise during certain times of the year, potentially offering solace for those who may buy Effexor to treat the symptoms of mental illness - a reassurance that they should not have anything to fear during a full moon. |
See also ...
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: All medical content and news articles on this website is supplied by an independent third party company. While the information can be useful, this website relies on others for its creation and cannot guarantee the accuracy, medical efficacy, or reliability of the information provided. In all circumstances, you should always seek the advice of your physician and/or other qualified health professional(s) for drug, medical condition, or treatment advice. This website does not provide any medical advice. The content provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. |