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Parasuicide and the lunar cycle.

T D Rogers¹, G Masterton, R McGuire

¹Department of Psychological Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Psychological Medicine

|May 1, 1991

Summary

Hospital admissions for parasuicide showed a cyclical variation linked to lunar quarters. However, this lunar effect was minimal and not statistically significant, suggesting no strong association between lunar cycles and parasuicide rates.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Environmental Health
Chronobiology

Background:

Parasuicide, defined as self-harm without lethal intent, is a significant public health concern.
Previous research has explored various environmental and temporal factors influencing self-harm behaviors.
The potential influence of lunar cycles on human behavior, including mental health crises, remains an area of interest.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether hospital admissions for parasuicide exhibit a cyclical variation synchronized with lunar quarters.
To quantify the potential association between lunar phases and parasuicide incidence.

Main Methods:

Analysis of hospital admission data for parasuicide over an eighteen-year period in a single city.
Statistical examination of admission rates in relation to lunar quarters.
Calculation of the effect size and statistical significance of any observed lunar cycle association.

Main Results:

A cyclical variation in parasuicide admissions appeared synchronized with lunar quarters.
The lunar effect accounted for only approximately 0.7 of the average 46 parasuicides per 100,000 adults per lunar cycle.
The observed association failed to reach statistical significance (95% CI 0.6-0.8).

Conclusions:

While a superficial synchronization between parasuicide admissions and lunar quarters was observed, the effect was negligible.
The findings do not support a statistically significant link between lunar cycles and parasuicide rates in this population.
Further research may be needed to explore other potential cyclical influences on self-harm behaviors.

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