Does a full moon really put mental patients on a buzz?

Question

One way of putting it I suppose ...
Someone that used to work in a residential unit with 'learning disabilities' patients and had worked in care homes implied that once. Your experience? Cheers :-)

Answer 1

With out a doubt.

I work for the emergency services and we all dread the full moon coming round as the number of psych incidents literally trebles. I have no idea why, someonein the know once said it's something to do with the moons gravitational pull effecting the water, ie tides, and with our bodies being mostly water it's has some effect on us, but who knows.

All I can say is, everybody I work with knows it, even my parents noticed by the jobs I mention to them.

Full moon night shift means guaranteed trip to the secure ward.

Answer 2

I dont nor have ever been in A physc ward or hospital, so in that sense I cannot say, I have worked In emergency servicesfor 33 years and have heard this countless times whileit does seem truthful that peopleact up abit moreduring the full phase, I certainly dont have scientfic proof...as far as Law enforcement is concerned, Activity is NOTICED more during a full moon phase because Peoplecan actually see the purp trying to B&E ... Its truely amazing as I walk my dog often at night and how much light there is compared toother phases of the moon.. Most of usare well in tune withour artificial light these days soit has little effect, however think back to times when folks didnt go out after dark with outa candle.lanturn.... on full moon phase more folks would venture out later because they could easily see better contributing to this old wives tale...

Answer 3

The moon does not have any effect whatsoever in the functions of the human brain....because in the old times, where the use of electricity, was unknown, nights with full moon were brighter, gave way to vivid imagination,of sane and insane people (both), and many mentally unstable people became agitated, and needed more observation....hence the term lunatic (luna in latin and spanish and italian, means MOON),,,,so that, lunatics can be anywhere in the world, full moon or no moon at all.)....The brain does not work as tidal waves do.....its not as simple as that............

As an example, the same thing can be said of mars venus etc.....no real influence in peoples brain

Answer 4

the moon affects us all there is a strong connection between the moon and blood along with water....the word lunacy suggests a direct connection between the moon and madness; in fact the superstition is so widely believed that was written into law!!!Leonard Ravitz a neurologist and psychiatric consultant,discovered a direct physiological connection between man and the moon he measured the different electrical potential between the head and chest of mental patients and 'normal' people and found all people show a cyclic pattern that changes from day to day the greatest differences occurred between head and chest occurred when there was a full moon ravitz suggests that as the moon modifies earths magnetic field these changes precipitate crises in people whose mental balance is already rather precarious... suggesting that yes the moon affects us...hope that helps

Answer 5

There was an article in our local newspaper about this not to long ago. Statistics show that there is not an increase in abnormal behavior associated with the full moon. Anecdotal evidence however suggests that there is. It may be that we just remember more add behaviors when we notice a full moon.

Answer 6

I heard the same thing from somebody that used to work at a state mental hospital. Lets just say he says the frequency of, um , scatalogical incidents increases.

My personal theory on this is just like you get the highest/lowest ocean tides around a full moon, brain chemicals get pulled into places they don't normally go any other time of the month.

Answer 7

I think I heard that when the moon is full or at the equinoz the gravity pull is a bit stronger and that causes the water in our brains to go in different directions and can make people act weird.

Answer 8

Yes I would say it does. I work with Adults learning difficulties and you can always guarantee that when there is a full moon there will be trouble in the house

Answer 9

It hasn't effected me yet.

There is a statistical correlation between the phases of the moon and criminal activity. Criminologists have theorised that this is because the nights are brighter, however, not because the moon effects people directly.

Answer 10

since humans are 90-odd % water & the Moon controls the tides, bet it does affect us.
& some one with a chemical unbalance, is likely to be affected differently or worse.
well it's just an idea. i have no data to back it up.