• Geneviève Belleville, Guillaume Foldes-Busque, Mélanie Dixon, Evelyne Marquis-Pelletier, Sarah Barbeau, Julien Poitras, Jean-Marc Chauny, Jean G Diodati, Richard Fleet, and André Marchand.
• School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6. genevieve.belleville@psy.ulaval.ca
• Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 1; 35 (2): 192-4.

ObjectivesThis 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).MethodsPatients with UCP were recruited from two EDs. Psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV.ResultsSignificant 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.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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