The Effects of Moon Phases on Suicide Attempts

Yıl 2019, Cilt: 1 Sayı: 2, 52 - 56, 17.07.2019

Avni Uygar Seyhan Nihat Müjdat Hökenek Nurhayat Başkaya Erdal Yılmaz Semih Korkut Hatice Kübra Önder Karagöz Huda Almadhoun

Öz

Objective: The effects of changes in moon phases on human psychology and behavior have been extensively studied. In our study, we aimed to compare the effect of the five different phases of the moon on the frequency of patients suicidal admissions to the hospital.

Materials and Methods: Patients who presented to emergency department between January 2018 and December 2018 due to attempts of suicide were inclueded. Patients data were analyzed in relation to the new moon, full moon, last quarter moon, first quarter moon and lunar eclipses in the moon calendar. Moon cycles were taken from the moon calendar and the dates when the moon was visible and the exact date of the cycle have been evaluated.

Results: 419 patients included in this study, 280 were female and 139 were male. Suicide attempts is most commonly seen in the 18-49 age range, and it is found that the frequency of suicide due to secondary gain is high in female gender. The most frequent suicide attempts have been found to be the in the new moon, lunar eclipse, last quarter moon, first quarter moon and the full moon, respectively (Pearson chi2(5) = 59.2428 Pr = 0.000). When we analyzed the same data with Cramér’s V test, we got the result of 0.2751, which confirms our hypothesis that the frequency of suicides increased with the advances of lunar cycles.

Conclusion: It was found that during specific phases of the moon the rate of suicide attempts the present to the emergency department had been increased. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

The Effects of Moon phases, suicide, moon effects, emergency medicine

Kaynakça

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