The full moon has always been associated with strange and mysterious happenings, which people cannot explain.
The full moon has also been associated with an increase in suicide deaths. Now, scientists believe they may be able to explain why suicide rates soar during the week of the full moon, reports the Study Finds.
Investigators at the Indiana University School of Medicine discovered specific blood markers in the bodies of people who committed suicide, who changed due to the full moon.
“We wanted to analyze the hypothesis that suicides increase during the period around the full moon and determine whether high-risk patients should be followed more closely during these periods,” said Alexander Niculescu, one of the study’s authors, published recently in Discover Mental Health.
The team analyzed data from patients in Marion, Indiana (United States), on suicides that occurred between 2012 and 2016. These records revealed that cases increase significantly at three times: during the week of the full moon, between 3:00 p.m. 16:00, and in the month of September. People over 55 were also more likely to commit suicide.
“From a clinical and public health perspective, we found some important messages in this study. You high-risk patients should be followed up closer in the week of the full moon, during the late afternoon and perhaps in the month of September”, indicated Alexander Niculescu.
Researchers have previously developed a blood biomarker test to detect mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
When analyzing the biomarkers present in the bodies of people who committed suicide, the team had signs that showed that their “internal clock” was not working at the time of death.
“We tested a list of the main blood markers for suicide that we identified in previous studies. The biomarkers for suicide that are predictive of death by suicide during the full moon, peak time of day, and peak month of the year, compared to times outside these periods, appear to be genes that regulate self-regulation. The body’s internal clock, the so-called “circadian clock”explained Alexander Niculescu.
“Using the biomarkers, we also found people with an alcohol use disorder or depression who may be at higher risk during these time periods,” he continued.
The authors suggest that the increased light provided by the full moon may be causing the increase in suicides during these periods. Ambient light can have a big impact on the circadian rhythm – the natural 24-hour clock the body follows to regulate sleep/wake cycles. That is, the moonlight may be disturbing certain people who are waiting for the sky to be darker.
“The effect of ambient light and body clocks on suicide needs to be studied more closely, along with how people sleep and their exposure to light. To the changes in light can affect vulnerable peopletogether with other risk factors”, clarified Alexander Niculescu.
As for the other two major suicide risk periods, the researchers say that suicides between 3 pm and 4 pm may be a result of stressors accumulating throughout the day. There is also a decrease in light that may be affecting circadian clock genes.
As for suicides in September, the authors noted that many people may be disappointed with the end of summer, which can cause them stress. This time of year can also trigger seasonal affective disorder, as daylight declines after summer.
“Our work shows that the full moon, autumn and late afternoon are temporal windows of increased risk of suicide, particularly in individuals who suffer from depression or alcohol-related disorders”, pointed out Alexander Niculescu.
The researcher added that it is also necessary to look at the impact of screen time on suicide risk. Light from these digital devices can affect circadian rhythms. “Some people have a full moon in their hand every night. It is an area that we need to study more”, he concluded.
ZAP // 
