The team recently published their findings in the journal Discover Mental Health.
” From a public health and a clinical perspective point of view, we found some essential take-home messages in this study,” Niculescu said. “High-risk clients must perhaps be followed more closely the week of the complete moon, during late afternoons, and maybe the month of September.”
Niculescu and his team formerly established blood biomarker tests for other psychological health conditions (stress and anxiety, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress condition) and for discomfort. Utilizing blood samples previously taken by the coroner from a few of the people, the group had the ability to see which biomarkers were present.
” We checked a list of top blood biomarkers for suicidality that we identified in previous studies,” Niculescu said. “The biomarkers for suicidality that are predictive of death by suicide throughout a full moon, peak hour of day and peak month of the year compared to beyond those periods appear to be genes that regulate the bodys own internal clock, so called circadian clock. Utilizing the biomarkers, we also found individuals with alcohol-use condition or depression may be at greater threat during these period.”
Niculescu said the increased light from the full moon could be what causes the increase in suicides during that period. Ambient light plays a significant function on the bodys circadian rhythm, which is the natural 24-hour cycle our bodies follow to control when we are sleeping and when we are awake. When it should be darker, Moonlight might be impacting people at a time.
” The impact of ambient light and body clocks in suicide needs to be studied more closely, in addition to how individuals sleep and their direct exposure to light,” Niculescu stated. “Changes in light can affect susceptible individuals, in conjunction with other risk aspects.”
As for the other two peak periods for suicides, Niculescu stated the peak of suicides from 3 to 4 p.m. might be connected to stressors throughout the day along with a decrease in light beginning to occur that day, triggering a lower expression of circadian clock genes and cortisol. And in September, lots of people are experiencing completion of summertime vacations, which could trigger stress, along with seasonal depression effects, as daylight decreases throughout that time of year.
” Our work shows the full moon, fall season and late afternoon are temporal windows of increased danger for suicide, especially in individuals who suffer from depression or alcohol utilize conditions,” Niculescu stated. “Some people have a complete moon in their hand every night,” Niculescu stated.
Referral: “Temporal impacts on death by suicide: empirical proof and possible molecular correlates” by R. Bhagar, H. Le-Niculescu, K. Roseberry, K. Kosary, C. Daly, A. Ballew, M. Yard, G. E. Sandusky and A. B. Niculescu, 3 April 2023, Discover Mental Health.DOI: 10.1007/ s44192-023-00035-4.
” We desired to analyze the hypothesis that suicides are increased throughout the period around complete moons and determine if high-risk clients need to be followed more carefully throughout those times,” stated Alexander Niculescu, MD, Ph.D
. The outcomes showed a significant boost in suicide deaths throughout the week of the full moon, with a particularly pronounced increase amongst people over the age of 55. “The biomarkers for suicidality that are predictive of death by suicide throughout a complete moon, peak hour of day and peak month of the year compared to outside of those durations appear to be genes that control the bodys own internal clock, so called circadian clock. Niculescu said the increased light from the full moon could be what leads to the boost in suicides throughout that duration.” Our work reveals the complete moon, fall season and late afternoon are temporal windows of increased danger for suicide, particularly in individuals who suffer from depression or alcohol use disorders,” Niculescu stated.
A study by psychiatrists at Indiana University School of Medicine found that suicides considerably increase throughout the week of a full moon, with individuals over 55 at even greater danger. The scientists suggest that high-risk clients need to be carefully monitored during complete moons, late afternoons, and the month of September, as these aspects, together with light exposure and circadian rhythm interruptions, may contribute to increased suicidality.
For centuries, it has been suspected that the moon has a mystical effect on human behavior. Now, current research performed by psychiatrists at the Indiana University School of Medicine has discovered that there is a connection in between the full moon and a boost in suicide deaths.
” We wanted to examine the hypothesis that suicides are increased during the duration around complete moons and identify if high-risk patients should be followed more closely during those times,” said Alexander Niculescu, MD, Ph.D
. The results revealed a significant increase in suicide deaths throughout the week of the full moon, with an especially pronounced increase amongst individuals over the age of 55.