Owens, M. et al., Madness and the Moon: The Lunar Cycle and Psychopathology, German Journal of Psychiatry
Lunacy is a synonym of madness and comes from the same root as the word "lunar" though from the best modern science this simply isn't true. Several trials have looked at data and today there is no link between the moon and madness or what is known as the Transylvannian effect,
though there is a possible link between lunar cycles and physical disease.
In a review of 11 studies only 1 showed any correlation. In a very large study that look at all suicides over 10 years in the US there was no result. Hospitalisations don't increase and neither does violence in modern studys. One small, lower quality study showed no effect on
affective disorders but a strong effect on quality of life for people with psychotic disorders; its a fascinating result from the only piece of research mentioned in this paper however like swallows in spring it doesn't mean much.
The study is short and worth a peruse.
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