title: Does the lunar phase have an effect on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy?
abstract: The incidence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in our epilepsy unit over an 8-year period was analyzed to determine a possible association between phase of the moon and SUDEP. Analysis revealed that the number of SUDEPs was highest in full moon (70%), followed by waxing moon (20%) and new moon (10%). No SUDEPs occurred during the waning cycle. These preliminary findings suggest that the full moon appears to correlate with SUDEP.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Psiquiatria e Psicologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Terra-Bustamante
authors.forename: Carla A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scorza
authors.forename: Marly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Américo C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Hélio R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Ricardo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Arida
authors.forename: Esper A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cavalheiro
authors.forename: Fulvio A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Scorza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016081:Moon; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons