Psychological Refioris, 1975, 37, 486.
@ Psychological Reports 1975
MOON PHASES AND STATE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS GERALD N. WEISKOTT A N D GEORGE B. T l P T O N A u ~ l i nState Hospbal T h e moon-behavior relationship has been explored for pyromania, suicide, homicide, and sexual periodiciry. Interest is increased enough that some researchers have termed the relationship of the full moon to emotional disturbance as the "Transylvanian Hypothesis" ( 3 ) . In a previous study, no relationship between phases of the moon and telephone counseling calls to a college counseling service was found ( 4 ) . It was suggested that these nonsignificant findings were related to the fact that a well educated population was sampled. T o determine whether there was a significant relationship with a less well educated population, the present study explored the relationship between Lunar cycles and human emotional disturbance with admissions to all Texas State Hospitals for a 9-mo. period, January, 1974 to September, 1974. T h e dates of the moon phases (First Quarter, Full Moon, Last Quarter, New Moon) for this period were obtained and admissions were tabulated according to these moon phases. T o maximize the effects of the full and new moon, quarters were combined so that one fortnight was centered around the full moon and one fortnight was centered around the new moon ( 2 , 4 ) . The table shows incidence of state hospitll admissions during these rwo fortnights. . 0 5 ) , with significantly This difference reached statistical significance ( x ' = 5.00, p more admissions during the full moon. The actual number of state hospital admissions occurring during each lunar phase was compared with the number expected by chance with the largest percentage of admissions occurring during the full and lasr quarrers (X' = 33.13, df = 3, p < . 0 1 ) . Actual percentages differ only slightly ( 2 % to 3 % ) .
@ Psychological Reports 1975
MOON PHASES AND STATE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS GERALD N. WEISKOTT A N D GEORGE B. T l P T O N A u ~ l i nState Hospbal T h e moon-behavior relationship has been explored for pyromania, suicide, homicide, and sexual periodiciry. Interest is increased enough that some researchers have termed the relationship of the full moon to emotional disturbance as the "Transylvanian Hypothesis" ( 3 ) . In a previous study, no relationship between phases of the moon and telephone counseling calls to a college counseling service was found ( 4 ) . It was suggested that these nonsignificant findings were related to the fact that a well educated population was sampled. T o determine whether there was a significant relationship with a less well educated population, the present study explored the relationship between Lunar cycles and human emotional disturbance with admissions to all Texas State Hospitals for a 9-mo. period, January, 1974 to September, 1974. T h e dates of the moon phases (First Quarter, Full Moon, Last Quarter, New Moon) for this period were obtained and admissions were tabulated according to these moon phases. T o maximize the effects of the full and new moon, quarters were combined so that one fortnight was centered around the full moon and one fortnight was centered around the new moon ( 2 , 4 ) . The table shows incidence of state hospitll admissions during these rwo fortnights. . 0 5 ) , with significantly This difference reached statistical significance ( x ' = 5.00, p more admissions during the full moon. The actual number of state hospital admissions occurring during each lunar phase was compared with the number expected by chance with the largest percentage of admissions occurring during the full and lasr quarrers (X' = 33.13, df = 3, p < . 0 1 ) . Actual percentages differ only slightly ( 2 % to 3 % ) .
