title: Impact of seasonal and lunar cycles on psychological symptoms in the ED: an empirical investigation of widely spread beliefs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the impacts of seasonal and lunar cycles on anxiety and mood disorders, panic and suicidal ideation in patients consulting the emergency department (ED) with a complaint of unexplained chest pain (UCP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with UCP were recruited from two EDs. Psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant seasonal effects were observed on panic and anxiety disorders, with panic more frequently encountered during spring [odds ratio (OR)=1.378, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.002-1.896] and anxiety disorders during summer (OR=1.586, 95% CI=1.037-2.425). Except for one significant finding, no significant effects of lunar cycles were observed. These findings encourage ED professionals and physicians to abandon their beliefs about the influence of lunar cycles on the mental health of their patients. Such unfounded beliefs are likely to be maintained by self-fulfilling prophecies.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6. genevieve.belleville@psy.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belleville
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foldes-Busque
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marquis-Pelletier
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbeau
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poitras
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chauny
authors.forename: Jean G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Diodati
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fleet
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchand
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D016081:Moon; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires