Impact of the full moon on psychiatric admissions and consultations

2117 Fourth Street , Unit C

Berkeley CA 94710

posterpresent[email protected]

www.PosterPresentations.com

INTRODUCTION

1. Full moon dates were verified for Colquitt County pulled

from

https://starwalk.space/en/news/full-moon-calendar-2023

and cross referenced with the U.S. Navy full moon calendar.

2. Randomized dates were created using a customized python

program.

3. 3 sets of 3 dates per month were generated using the

above mentioned randomizer.

4. Set 1 with 3 dates per month, with the exception of August

which had 4 and used one random date from Set 3 dates

pulled, were used to request data from Colquitt Regional

Medical Center.

Month 1: ['2023-01-26', '2023-01-11', '2023-01-02']

Month 2: ['2023-02-13', '2023-02-25', '2023-02-27']

Month 3: ['2023-03-24', '2023-03-17', '2023-03-02']

Month 4: ['2023-04-14', '2023-04-02', '2023-04-24']

Month 5: ['2023-05-11', '2023-05-25', '2023-05-09']

Month 6: ['2023-06-21', '2023-06-23', '2023-06-24']

Month 7: ['2023-07-09', '2023-07-22', '2023-07-24']

Month 8: [‘2023-08-04’, '2023-08-09', '2023-08-18',

'2023-08-22']

Month 9: ['2023-09-10', '2023-09-24', '2023-09-18']

Month 10: ['2023-10-28', '2023-10-20', '2023-10-25']

Month 11: ['2023-11-30', '2023-11-11', '2023-11-29']

Month 12: ['2023-12-03', '2023-12-25', '2023-12-24']

5. Electronic medical records from the Emergency Department

at Colquitt Regional Medical Center spanning from January 1,

2023 to December 31, 2023 were requested and pulled.

6. Data was categorized according to various lunar phases per

month, focusing on the full moon period.

7. Using the admit diagnosis and final diagnosis the data was

filtered down to relevant codes starting in F01-F99, which are

only psychiatric in nature, and R41 to R46 which include:

a. R41

Other symptoms and signs involving cognitive functions

and awareness

b. R42

Dizziness and giddiness

c. R43

Disturbances of smell and taste

d. R44

Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations

and perceptions

e. R45

Symptoms and signs involving emotional state

f. R46

Symptoms and signs involving appearance and

behavior

8. Results were analyzed using 2-tail two sample t-test. The p

value, mean, and standard deviation was calculated on excel,

with a cutoff of p<0.05.

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

Our objective was to gather evidence to test our hypothesis

that the full moon impacts mental health in a manner that

directly increases psychiatric admissions and patients needing

acute psychiatric stabilization. Specifically, research showed

that the p value = 0.1628. Since the p value is greater than

0.05 we accept the null hypothesis, and therefore conclude that

there is no statistically significant difference between the

occurrence of psychiatric diagnosis and subsequent

admissions in an ED on a lunar day versus a non lunar day.

In conclusion, our final findings indicated that there is no

correlation between the lunar cycle and its effect on psychiatric

admissions to the ED.

Future research with larger sample sizes and multi-center

collaborations could provide more robust insights into the

potential influence of the full moon on psychiatric presentations

in emergency settings. The results of this study are important

towards understanding if such patterns may contribute to

improved resource allocation and enhanced preparedness for

heightened psychiatric demand in the emergency department

during the full moon.

REFERENCES

1. Uddin M, Nursetyo AA, Iqbal U, Nguyen PA, Jian WS, Li YC,

Syed-Abdul S. Assessment of effects of moon phases on hospital

outpatient visits: An observational national study. AIMS Public Health.

2023 May 6;10(2):324-332. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2023024. PMID:

37304591; PMCID: PMC10251051.

2. Kung S, Mrazek D. Psychiatric emergency department visits on

full-moon nights. Psychiatr Serv. 2005; 56: 221–222.

3. Bierman T, Estel D, Sperling W. Influence of lunar phases on suicide:

the end of a myth? A population-based study. Chronobiol Int. 2005; 22:

1137–1143.

4. Vance DE. Belief in lunar effects on human behavior. Psychol Rep.

1995; 76: 32–34.

5. Zargar M, Khaji A, Kaviani A, et al. The full moon and admission to

emergency rooms. Indian J Med Sci. 2004; 58: 191–195.

6. Chakraborty U. Effects of different phases of the lunar month on

humans. Biol Rhythm Res. 2014;45:383–396. doi:

10.1080/09291016.2013.830508.

7. Zimecki M. The lunar cycle: effects on human and animal behavior and

physiology. Postep Hig Med Dosw. 2006;60:1–7.

HYPOTHESIS

There has been a long-standing belief or superstition among

individuals that the Lunar cycle and specifically the full moon

has an affect or influence on our mood or mental health

1,4,7

There are some contradictory research studies on how the

full moon impacts human health and behavior

1-3,5

Various studies suggest a connection between lunar phases

and neurological, reproductive, endocrine, immunological,

cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases, while other

studies show no correlation between lunar phases and

medical conditions

1,6,7

. One research article speculates that

one of the ways the moon could impact mental health is

through the neurohormone release secondary to the

electromagnetic radiation and the moon’s gravitational pull

This retrospective study explores how the full moon and

various lunar phases correlate to the frequency of emergency

department (ED) psychiatric admissions. The idea that lunar

cycles may influence human behavior has long been a

subject of fascination and folklore

1,6,7

. However, empirical

evidence in the context of psychiatric presentations in the ED

remains limited

2,3,7

Electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health

records (EHRs) offer valuable resources for research that

allow for the analysis of patient data to further elucidate if the

full moon impacts the number of psychiatric admissions in the

emergency department

1-5

The goal of this inquiry is to investigate and determine if there

is any correlation of the lunar cycle and admittance to the ED

due to the lunar cycles affect on an individual’s mood or

mental health.

Jeanine Garcia

, Philipa A. Wang

, Richard Tricardo, MD

, Rizwana Ashraf, MD

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Moultrie GA,

Georgia South Psychiatry Residency Program, Moultrie GA

Impact of the Full Moon on Psychiatric Admissions and Consultations

in the Emergency Department: a Retrospective Analysis

❏ The full moon affects psychiatric admissions in the ED.

❏ The full moon increases psychiatric admissions in the ED.

❏ The full moon increases the number of those who seek

inpatient care in order to be acutely stabilized for their

psychiatric conditions.

❏ Analysis of ED admission records, did not show significant

difference in psychiatric admissions on full moon dates vs

randomized non-full moon dates

❏ The mean number of psychiatric admission during a full

moon date were 3

❏ The mean number of psychiatric admissions during a

non-full moon date were 2

❏ The p value was 0.1628

Assessed 04/23/2024 and available from:

https://grifﬁthobservatory.org/explore/observing-the-sky/whats-in-the-sky/the-moon/2024-phases-of-the-moon/