Full Moon
According to a study published in the Australia Medical Journal the full moon brings out the beast in people. Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital did a study on 91 patients in which 23%, 21 patients, were violent with staff. This number is double the amount of incidences that took place in other moon phases during the 11 month study. The attacks included biting and scratching and other animalistic behavior. Use of alcohol and drugs was also elevated during this time. The werewolf myth was mentioned and perhaps this tendency in humans during the full moon did give rise to such stories. Health care workers have long believed violence and odd behavior are more prevalent during this time each month. Often the assertion has been dismissed as anecdotal but now it appears, in at least this study, to have some validity.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26479508-23272,00.html
picture from nasa.com
Updated: Story took place in Australia not Austria.
Comments
this story spoke to me, because a swear it is absolutely true. with the elderly, in my experience, we saw it more with confused patients, but elevated agitation and distress levels became noticable in many patient at the full moon. i, for one, was glad anytime my days off fell during this cycle. to be fair the effect is probably present on staff as well if it is a natural human reaction of some sort.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/13/09 at 12:26 PM
very interesting dumbfounded. i wonder about stroke and anneurism data as relates to the moon phases too. as i said i sure noticed a difference in the residents at the full moon and you hear that repeatedly when talking to care providers. i have even heard it from cops.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/13/09 at 07:04 PM
thank you sweetheart, you are the best. very interesting data. i would have thought aneurysms would show lunar effect too but maybe in a larger study it would.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/13/09 at 08:00 PM
I found this fascinating article which debunks popular theory regarding human beings as they are affected by the moon. Check it out here. I suggest reading the entire article but if that wall of text is scary, scroll down about halfway to the update from february 1. I thought that was neat 😊
Posted by Nethie on 12/13/09 at 10:11 PM
it is neat nethie, thanks for the link. i am still inclined to believe there is some effect though just from my own anecdotal experience.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/13/09 at 10:34 PM
Isn't it amazing that many, many people who work with people (nurses, cops, etc) over many many decades all have the same anecdotal evidence of weirdness surrounding a full moon but that, still, just ain't enough "proof"?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/14/09 at 12:25 AM
"i am still inclined to believe there is some effect though just from my own anecdotal experience."
I am also inclined to believe it, I just thought it was a good article for opposing viewpoints.
I am also inclined to believe it, I just thought it was a good article for opposing viewpoints.
Posted by Nethie on 12/14/09 at 07:18 AM
it is a good article. 😊
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/14/09 at 10:54 AM
my sincere apologies to everyone, i miss read austria for australia in the article and never realized it till i looked back at the link after cougar's second comment. it was one of those mistakes like transposing a number, once i saw it that way in my mind i just skimmed over it still seeing what i expected to. cougar sorry for my tone earlier too thanks for making me see my mistake. i'll go in and update the story to correct it.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/14/09 at 08:35 PM
am i that easy to figure out? :lol:
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/17/09 at 04:39 PM
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