Citation

Chaudhari NK, Mori R, Garg S, Rathwa V, Shah J. Int. J. Med. Toxicol. Legal Med. 2018; 21(1/2): 20-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, India Medico Legal Society)

DOI

10.5958/0974-4614.2018.00006.2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The hypothesis of lunar influence on suicide remains widespread, despite the fact that little scientific evidence to substantiate it. We conducted a population-based study to assess the influence of the lunar phases on suicides according to age, sex, and chosen method. The study included all suicides in Civil Hospital mortuary Ahmedabad during the one year period from 1st January, 2012 to 31st December, 2012. From a population-based sample of 3930 events, the files of 608 cases of suicides (345 males and 263 females) were complete for the study variables. Data were categorized by lunar phase, sex, age, and chosen method. No significant relationship was detected between the full, absent, and moon's interphases and suicide incidence. Nevertheless, there was a weak association between the full moon and choice of a non-violent suicide method in men. There was no evidence of a relationship between suicide and lunar phase. Some explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.

Language: en