Is There Any "facts" To Prove The Connection Between The Moon And The Affects It Has On Humans?

[RATTER15]

For years I have been told about people going mad etc on a full moon as have we all.

In my line of work I have heard it more and more working with challenging behaviour and dementia etc.

I have often checked the state of the moon on days/nights when we have had many problems with clients, to be honest I have never noticed any increase in behavioural problems at any particular state of the moon.

I want facts not hearsay and yes I know about the name lunacy etc coming from the word lunar.

Reliable research statistics would also be good.

[emmie]

at the coalface of experience.

[emmie]

ratter you asked for opinion, facts, i gave you mine, if anyone thinks there is any truth in it, then well suggest they take a turn in a mental health unit.
no one i know would say there was, and i have known a lot of mental health patients, people in my time.

[ChillDoubt]

I vaguely remember watching a programme some time ago that claimed lunar activity did have an effect on people.

Maybe this bears that out:

http://m.couriermail.com.au/news/national-old/full-moon-brings-out-inner-werewolf-study/story-e6freooo-1225809873843

[jake-the-peg]

ChillDoubt - having searched down that article it is in a peer reviewed journal, however I can find nobody else who reproduces those findings. The 3 papers I posted links to find no link and the only people citing that paper find no corrolation.

Moreover if you look at her chart there is no corrolation with patients exhibiting violent behaviou

https://d1vbntprwjdqr.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/issues/191_11_071209/cal11072_fm-2.gif

The only claimed correlation is for emergency admissions


Given this I find the idea that there is a direct link rather difficult to believe - I'd like to see the raw data because something like a really bad accident coincidently with a full moon could look like this when you add the numbers up over 12 months.

I'd expect more from a peer reviewed journal myself even one as far down the rankings (151/174) as the MJA

[emmie]

it's amazing that people simply post links to stuff then totally disregard anyone's personal experiences, there is no link to people's mental health wellbeing and the moon, none whatsoever, and quite frankly if i put this question to those i have known with problems, they would laugh their heads off.
Ratter if some of your clients or ex clients, had problems suggest looking at the medications they are on. These can cause any number of side effects, how do i know, because i have experience of them, some of which are pretty nasty, which is why anyone with mental health issues should be thoroughly examined to see if they really need meds, if not counselling is a better and safer option. Dementia, Alzheimers is a mostly ageing related issue, though it doesn't stop younger ones having either sadly.

[mibn2cweus]

As is the case with any arbitrary belief. any correlation between a 'Fool Moon' and those whose actions corroborate the myth is far more likely attributable to those who believe and act accordingly. Belief has no power to directly alter reality, but the actions of those who believe, without question, are not without consequence.

[ChillDoubt]

Apologies for researching the topic on this thread and posting links that provide actual data!
And yes em10, I have personal experience which differs from other posters.
Maybe this will suffice?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6723911.stm

I'm still trying to find a link to the programme I saw.

[emmie]

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/03/27/3464601.htm

[China Doll]

I have several patients with mental health issues, (and indeed parents of patients with mental health issues now I think about it), who I can predict when they will call and it's always around the end of the month and the same people.... However I suspect I probably just notice it more then as I find myself wondering aloud, 'is there a bloody full moon today?' So I think my brain probably makes an association that doesn't really exist.

[ChillDoubt]

So there is conflicting data and studies, plus your experiences differ from mine.
And so it will be ad infinitum.

[emmie]

those of my acquaintance often have trouble with sleep, that has nothing to do with the moon, but more their anxieties, night time is often bad for those
with issues, as can be testified by some on AB.

[ChillDoubt]

em10,
From the link you provided, look at the Comments section, 10th comment by janelle.
Interesting?

[emmie]

read that and don't agree, read some of the other comments and you wonder what they are on, a correlation between tinnitus and the full moon, well i haven't ever found that, and the ENT consultant i see, would i am sure debunk that piece of nonsense. It happens to get worse when i have a bad cold, flu, not when the moon comes out.

[mibn2cweus]

China Doll
I have several patients with mental health issues, (and indeed parents of patients with mental health issues now I think about it), who I can predict when they will call and it's always around the end of the month and the same people.... However I suspect I probably just notice it more then as I find myself wondering aloud, 'is there a bloody full moon today?' So I think my brain probably makes an association that doesn't really exist.
15:47 Wed 09th Jan 2013

Have you taken into account that Full Moon's rarely coincide with changes in a calendar month? I have heard, however, of some women who are, far more, erm . . . regular. ;o)

[ChillDoubt]

read that and don't agree
------------------
And there we have it in a nutshell. Conflicting data and experiences, however I don't doubt or belittle your own.
Personnel from the emergency services have their own too, as borne out in the second link I provided.

[China Doll]

I haven't but I feel certain I should! ;o)

[emmie]

CH, have you ever suffered with mental health issues or know people who have, dementia, alzheimers as well?
alas i have and at no time would i have said the people behaved better or worse when there was a full moon, many were so medicated they wouldn't know what day of the week it was let alone wonder at the shiny new moon.
Until scientists, doctors actually finds the evidence, a clear link, i will keep my own counsel.

[ChillDoubt]

As I said em10, my experiences differ from yours.
I'm speaking as an ex Military Policeman, ex Special Constable(some 14 years) and Operating Theatre Technician so mine are conversely different to yours.
The OP asked for research statistics and in all probability personal experiences.

[emmie]

i can only go on my experiences as patient and sometime carer.

[wildwood]

I reservedly believe the light reflected from the full moon has a secondary affect on humans. As has been mentioned, we are more inclined to become active when there is light. Maybe it is some ancient way to be more aware of predators at a full moon because they too, will be more active too.

It is a fact that some birds like starlings prepare for migration according to the moon's phase for obvious reasons. When these birds are kept in an aviary with shutters and they show signs of wanting to go to the direction of their migration, and then the shutters are closed so the birds can't seen the moon, they become confused. If the shutters are partially opened with mirrors on them, the birds faced the moon as they saw it, not the actual position. This proves that at least with migrating birds, the moon's affect is only visual, not by some strange power.