Bipolar mood cycles and lunar tidal cycles
Open accessAbstract
In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, time-series analyses detected synchronies between mood cycles and three lunar cycles that modulate the amplitude of the moon's semi-diurnal gravimetric tides: the 14.8-day spring-neap cycle, the 13.7-day declination cycle and the 206-day cycle of perigee-syzygies ('supermoons'). The analyses also revealed shifts among 1:2, 1:3, 2:3 and other modes of coupling of mood cycles to the two bi-weekly lunar cycles. These shifts appear to be responses to the conflicting demands of the mood cycles' being entrained simultaneously to two different bi-weekly lunar cycles with slightly different periods. Measurements of circadian rhythms in body temperature suggest a biological mechanism through which transits of one of the moon's semi-diurnal gravimetric tides might have driven the patients' bipolar cycles, by periodically entraining the circadian pacemaker to its 24.84-h rhythm and altering the pacemaker's phase-relationship to sleep in a manner that is known to cause switches from depression to mania.
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Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, mood cycles showed synchrony with three lunar cycles that modulate the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides: the 14.8-day spring–neap cycle, the 13.7-day declination cycle, and the 206-day perigee-syzygy cycle. The paper proposes that lunar tidal transits may entrain the circadian pacemaker to a 24.84-h rhythm and alter its phase relationship to sleep in a way known to trigger switches from depression to mania.
Key findings
- Across 17 patients monitored for a combined 37.5 years, or 928 spring–neap cycles, onsets of mania were synchronous with every second (N=8), third (N=11), fourth (N=2), and/or sixth (N=1) bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle.
- Mood cycles exhibited five resonance modes with bi-weekly lunar cycles: 1:2 in 8 patients, 1:3 in 7, 2:3 in 5, 1:4 in 2, and 1:6 in 1 patient.
- In 13 patients, onsets of mania shifted synchrony from one multiple of a bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle to another; when they shifted back, they re-established the original phase relationship. In six patients, major shifts from shorter to longer mood cycles coincided with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies.
- In Patients 12 and 16, menstrual cycles showed analogous 1:2 and 1:3 synchrony with the spring–neap cycle; body-temperature recordings in Patients 5, 9, 12, and 17 and others suggested circadian timing shifted progressively later before depression-to-mania switches, coinciding with every second or third transit of a lunar semi-diurnal tide.
Methods
- Retrospective study of 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder: 6 men and 11 women aged 21–69, including 3 post-menopausal women; patients had sustained mania and depression episodes, a prominent switch process, and 6 or more complete cycles per year.
- Clinical course was documented by patient-maintained calendar records of switches, daily self-ratings of mood, and trained research nurses’ daily behavioral ratings of depression and mania; two patients’ mood cycles came from R. Gjessing’s 1920s–30s records.
- χ² periodogram analyses were performed on each time-series, sampling whole-day periods between 10 and 50 days for most patients or 20 and 100 days for Patients 6 and 11, with statistical significance set at Qp=0.05 one-tailed; raster plots were constructed using multiples of bi-weekly lunar tidal cycles (N=16) or 35.5 days (N=3).
Limitations
- Stated: the study did not address causality; future research is needed to determine whether findings can be replicated and extended to other biological phenomena.
- Stated: in the eight menstruating women, it is unclear whether lunar influences act directly on mood cycles or indirectly through the menstrual cycle.
- Stated: the complexity and variety of associations might be non-physiological artifacts of modern lighting technology, which has diminished the moon’s luminance cycle. Evident from the text: the sample is small (N=17), retrospective, and combines heterogeneous documentation methods, including two historical cases from the pre-psychopharmacological era.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
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Cites
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Claims the paper makes
0 of 22 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingown data
Mood cycles exhibited a 1:2 mode of resonance with bi-weekly lunar cycles in eight patients (Patients 3-5, 7-10 and 12).
“A 1:2 mode in eight patients (Patients 3–5, 7–10 and 12), in which every mood cycle was synchronous with every second bi-weekly lunar cycle”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Onsets of manic episodes in 1 patient were synchronous with every sixth bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle.
“Onsets of the patients’ manic episodes were synchronous with every second (N=8), third (N=11), fourth (N=2) and/or sixth (N=1) bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
In Patients 12 and 16, onsets of menses tended to coincide with peaks of the spring-neap cycle.
“In both patients, menstrual cycles exhibited both 1:2 and 1:3 modes of synchrony with the spring–neap cycle, and onsets of menses tended to coincide with peaks of that cycle.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
Mood cycles exhibited a 1:3 mode of resonance with bi-weekly lunar cycles in seven patients (Patients 3, 4, 8-10, 15 and 16).
“A 1:3 mode in seven patients (Patients 3, 4, 8–10, 15 and 16), in which every mood cycle was synchronous with every third bi-weekly lunar cycle”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In index Patient 17, frequency shifts from shorter to longer mood cycles consistently coincided with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies through five iterations.
“Frequency shifts from shorter to longer mood cycles consistently coincided with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies through five iterations”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The 206-day perigee-syzygy cycle modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, mood cycles were synchronous with the 13.7-day declination lunar tidal cycle.
“In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, time-series analyses detected synchronies between mood cycles and three lunar cycles that modulate the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides: the 14.8-day spring–neap cycle, the 13.7-day declination cycle and the 206-day cycle of perigee-syzygies (‘supermoons’).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The declination cycle has a period of 13.7 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
In Patient 17, transits of full-moon and new-moon peaks of every second spring-neap cycle exhibited temporal relationships with onsets of mania in one sequence of mood cycles that were repeated exactly in the sequence of mood cycles that followed, one-half lunar year later.
“transits of full-moon and new-moon peaks of every second spring–neap cycle exhibited temporal relationships with onsets of mania in one sequence of mood cycles that were repeated exactly in the sequence of mood cycles that followed, one-half lunar year later”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
In nine patients (Patients 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15 and 17), withdrawal of antidepressant agents was associated with slowing of cycling or onset of unremitting depression.
“These types of responses seem to have occurred in nine patients (Patients 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15 and 17), in as much as withdrawal of these agents was associated with slowing of cycling or onset of unremitting depression”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
When onsets of mania shifted back to their initial mode of synchrony with a bi-weekly cycle, they re-established their original phase-relationship to that cycle.
“When onsets of mania shifted back to their initial mode of synchrony with a bi-weekly cycle, they re-established their original phase-relationship to that cycle”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In six patients (Patients 3, 4, 6-8 and 13), major shifts from shorter to longer cycle lengths appeared to coincide with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies in the moon's orbit.
“In six patients (Patients 3, 4, 6–8 and 13), major shifts from shorter to longer cycle lengths appeared to coincide with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies in the moon’s orbit”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The 206-day perigee-syzygy cycle modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
In Patients 5, 9, 12, and 17 and other patients, the timing of circadian rhythms in temperature consistently shifted progressively later during periods that led up to switches from depression to mania.
“The recordings show that that the timing of circadian rhythms in temperature consistently shifted progressively later during periods that led up to switches from depression to mania”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In 13 patients (Patients 3, 4, 6-10 and 12-17), onsets of mania shifted their synchrony from a particular multiple of a bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle to a different multiple.
“In 13 patients (Patients 3, 4, 6–10 and 12–17), onsets of mania shifted their synchrony from a particular multiple of a bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle to a different multiple”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Onsets of manic episodes in 11 patients were synchronous with every third bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle.
“Onsets of the patients’ manic episodes were synchronous with every second (N=8), third (N=11), fourth (N=2) and/or sixth (N=1) bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, mood cycles were synchronous with the 14.8-day spring-neap lunar tidal cycle.
“In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, time-series analyses detected synchronies between mood cycles and three lunar cycles that modulate the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides: the 14.8-day spring–neap cycle, the 13.7-day declination cycle and the 206-day cycle of perigee-syzygies (‘supermoons’).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
These changes in circadian temperature rhythms coincided with every second or every third transit of a lunar semi-diurnal tide.
“and that these changes coincided with every second or every third transit of a lunar semi-diurnal tide”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Diverse patients exhibited similar periodicities in their mood cycles, as if they arose from a common external source.
“Diverse patients exhibited similar periodicities in their mood cycles, as if they arose from a common external source”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In each iteration in Patient 17, the sequences of alternating advances and delays could be mapped onto alternating recurrences of every second and every third spring-neap cycle and onto combinations of multiples of declination cycles and spring-neap cycles.
“in each iteration, the sequences of alternating advances and delays could be mapped onto alternating recurrences of every second and every third spring–neap cycle and onto combinations of multiples of declination cycles and spring–neap cycles”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Rests on an assumption: The declination cycle has a period of 13.7 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, mood cycles were synchronous with the 206-day perigee-syzygy lunar cycle.
“In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, time-series analyses detected synchronies between mood cycles and three lunar cycles that modulate the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides: the 14.8-day spring–neap cycle, the 13.7-day declination cycle and the 206-day cycle of perigee-syzygies (‘supermoons’).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The 206-day perigee-syzygy cycle modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
Mood cycles exhibited a 1:4 mode of resonance with bi-weekly lunar cycles in two patients (Patients 6 and 11).
“A 1:4 mode in two patients (Patients 6 and 11) in which every mood cycle was synchronous with every fourth bi-weekly lunar cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
After such shifts in Patient 17, a stereotypic sequence of alternating advances and delays in the onsets of mania recurred repeatedly.
“After such shifts, a stereotypic sequence of alternating advances and delays in the onsets of mania recurred repeatedly”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In seven patients (Patients 3-6, 8-10, 16 and 17), mood cycles exhibited periodicities similar to the 35.5-day periodicity of the index patient's mood cycles.
“In seven patients (Patients 3–6, 8–10, 16 and 17), mood cycles exhibited periodicities that were similar to the 35.5-day periodicity of the index patient’s mood cycles”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Patient 12's menses were synchronous with the new-moon phase of every second spring-neap cycle.
“Patient 12’s menses were synchronous with the new-moon phase of every second spring–neap cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
Mood cycles exhibited a 1:6 mode of resonance with bi-weekly lunar cycles in one patient (Patient 6).
“A 1:6 mode in one patient (Patient 6), in which every mood cycle was synchronous with every sixth bi-weekly lunar cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
In seven patients (Patients 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 16), onsets of mania were synchronous with each type of bi-weekly cycle at different times during the course of illness.
“However, in seven patients (Patients 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 16) onsets of mania were synchronous with each type of bi-weekly cycle at different times during the course of illness”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
Changes in the mood cycles' frequency were not gradual, but rather were quantal or modular.
“Changes in the mood cycles’ frequency were not gradual, but rather were quantal or modular”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In Patients 12 and 16, menstrual cycles exhibited both 1:2 and 1:3 modes of synchrony with the spring-neap cycle.
“In both patients, menstrual cycles exhibited both 1:2 and 1:3 modes of synchrony with the spring–neap cycle, and onsets of menses tended to coincide with peaks of that cycle.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
Onsets of manic episodes in 8 patients were synchronous with every second bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle.
“Onsets of the patients’ manic episodes were synchronous with every second (N=8), third (N=11), fourth (N=2) and/or sixth (N=1) bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
Mood cycles exhibited a 2:3 mode of resonance with bi-weekly lunar cycles in five patients (Patients 1, 2, 7, 13 and 14).
“A 2:3 mode in five patients (Patients 1, 2, 7, 13 and 14), in which every second mood cycle was synchronous with every third bi-weekly lunar cycle”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Onsets of manic episodes in 2 patients were synchronous with every fourth bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle.
“Onsets of the patients’ manic episodes were synchronous with every second (N=8), third (N=11), fourth (N=2) and/or sixth (N=1) bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
In 8 patients, onsets of mania were predominantly synchronous with multiples of the spring-neap cycle.
“In most patients, onsets of mania were predominately synchronous with multiples of one of the two types of bi-weekly tidal cycles, the declination cycle (N=9) (Figure 1) or the spring–neap cycle (N=8) (Figure 2).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingown data
In 9 patients, onsets of mania were predominantly synchronous with multiples of the declination cycle.
“In most patients, onsets of mania were predominately synchronous with multiples of one of the two types of bi-weekly tidal cycles, the declination cycle (N=9) (Figure 1) or the spring–neap cycle (N=8) (Figure 2).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The declination cycle has a period of 13.7 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Findingcitation
Patient 9 achieved a complete remission when he stayed in total darkness from 1800 hours to 0800 hours every night.
“Consistent with this prediction, Patient 9 achieved a complete remission when he stayed in total darkness from 1800 hours to 0800 hours every night.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [10] Wehr TA, Turner EH, Shimada JM, Lowe CH, Barker C, Leibenluft E . Treatment of a rapidly cycling bipolar patient by using extended bed rest and darkness to stabilize the timing and duration of sleep. Biol Psychiatry 1998; 43: 822–828. source
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationown data
Transits of the tide intermittently entrained a component of the human circadian (or circalunar) timing system to its 24.84-h rhythm during phases of the bi-weekly cycles when the tide's amplitude was highest and its strength as a forcing cycle would be greatest.
“These observations raise the possibility that transits of the tide intermittently entrained a component of the human circadian (or circalunar) timing system to its 24.84-h rhythm during phases of the bi-weekly cycles when the tide’s amplitude was highest and its strength as a forcing cycle would be greatest.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The human circadian pacemaker can be entrained to a 24.84-h lunar tidal rhythm.
- Interpretationown data
In Patient 8, the shifts among modes of resonance appear to have facilitated the mood cycles' being simultaneously entrained to both the spring-neap cycle and the declination cycle, despite the two lunar cycles' having slightly different periods.
“In Patient 8, the shifts appear to have facilitated the mood cycles’ being simultaneously entrained to both the spring–neap cycle and the declination cycle, in spite of the two lunar cycles’ having slightly different periods”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Rests on an assumption: The declination cycle has a period of 13.7 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Interpretationown data
The hypothesis of a causal relationship between lunar cycles and mood cycles is plausible.
“Although the present study did not address causality, several observations suggest that the hypothesis of a causal relationship between lunar cycles and mood cycles is plausible”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Shifts in the timing of circadian rhythms relative to the timing of sleep have been shown to cause switches from depression to mania.
“This type of shift in the timing of circadian rhythms relative to the timing of sleep has been shown to cause switches from depression to mania”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked- cites [13] Wehr TA, Wirz-Justice A, Duncan WC Jr, Gillin JC, Goodwin FK . Phase-advance of the circadian sleep-wake cycle as an antidepressant. Science 1979; 206: 710–713. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [25] Schilgen B, Tölle R . Partial sleep deprivation as therapy for depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980; 37: 267–271. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [26] Berger M, Vollmann J, Hohagen F, Konig A, Lohner H, Voderholzer U, Riemann D . Sleep deprivation combined with consecutive sleep phase advance as a fast-acting therapy in depression. Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154: 870–872. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [27] Benedetti F, Barbini B, Campori E, Fulgosi MC, Pontiggia A, Colombo C . Sleep phase advance and lithium to sustain the antidepressant effect of total sleep deprivation in bipolar depression. J Psychiat Res 2001; 35: 323–329. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [28] Wu JC, Bunney WE Jr . Rapid and sustained antidepressant response with sleep deprivation and chronotherapy in bipolar disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2009; 66: 298–301. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [29] Echizenya M, Suda H, Takeshima M, Inomata Y, Shimizu T . Total sleep deprivation followed by sleep phase advance and bright light therapy in drug-resistant mood disorders. J Affect Disord 2012; 144: 28–33. source
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationreasoning
Such shifts might be a mechanism through which a semi-diurnal tide could drive the mood cycles.
“might therefore be a mechanism through which a semi-diurnal tide could drive the mood cycles”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The declination cycle acts through a medium other than moonlight, such as gravitational forces or gravitational forces' effects on other media such as the earth's magnetic field or atmosphere.
“The fact that the period of the declination cycle differs slightly from the period of the spring–neap cycle, whose every second peak coincides with the full moon, would seem to indicate that the declination cycle acts through a medium other than moonlight, such as, for example, gravitational forces, or more likely, perhaps, gravitational forces’ effects on other media, such as the earth’s magnetic”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked- cites [21] Pertsev N, Dalin P . Lunar semimonthly signal in cloudiness: lunar-phase or lunar-declination effect? J Atmos Sol Terr Phys 2010; 72: 713–717. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [22] Grunskaya LV, Morozov VN, Zakirov AA, Rubai DV, Rubai RV . Solar and lunar tides in the geomagnetic field. Russ Phys J 2011; 54: 133–146. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [23] Gerasimov AV, Kostyuchenko VP, Solovieva AS, Olovnikov AM . Pineal gland as an endocrine gravitational lunasensor: Manifestation of moon-phase dependent morphological changes in mice. Biochemistry (Moscow) 2014; 79: 1069–1074. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [24] Fisahn J, Klingele E, Barlow P . Lunar gravity affects leaf movement of Arabidopsis thaliana in the International Space Station. Planta 2015; 241: 1509–1518. source
Not checked in the free run.
- Rests on an assumption: The declination cycle has a period of 13.7 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
- Interpretationreasoning
The complexity and variety of the associations reported here between mood cycles and lunar orbital cycles might be non-physiological artifacts of modern lighting technology.
“The complexity and variety of the associations reported here between mood cycles and lunar orbital cycles might be non-physiological artifacts of modern lighting technology”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Antidepressant medications sometimes induce, or accelerate the frequency of, rapid mood cycling.
“Antidepressant medications sometimes induce, or accelerate the frequency of, rapid mood cycling.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [12] Wehr TA, Goodwin FK . Rapid cycling in manic-depressives induced by tricyclic antidepressants. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1979; 36: 555–559. source
Not checked in the free run.
- May combine two claims. 2
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 5
- The quote only partly states this claim. 1
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataPatient 16's menses were synchronous with the full-moon phase of every second spring-neap cycle in the first portion of her record and with the new-moon phase in the second portion.
“Patient 16’s menses were synchronous with the full-moon phase of every second spring–neap cycle in the first portion of her record and with the new-moon phase in the second portion.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningIn these circumstances, the bio-behavioral cycles might once have exhibited the simple, one-to-one relationship with recurrences of the full moon that has been sought, but not found, in modern epidemiological studies.
“In these circumstances, the bio-behavioral cycles might once have exhibited the simple, one-to-one relationship with recurrences of the full moon that has been sought, but not found, in modern epidemiological studies.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [3] Raison CL, Klein HM, Steckler M . The moon and madness reconsidered. J Affect Disord 1999; 53: 99–106. source
Not checked in the free run.
The quote only partly states this claim.
InterpretationreasoningThe co-occurrence of so many coincidences spanning so many iterations in Patient 17 seems highly improbable.
“The co-occurrence of so many coincidences spanning so many iterations seems highly improbable.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe brightness of the full moon might also have reinforced the mood cycles' entrainment to the full-moon phase of every second spring-neap gravimetric cycle and suppressed their entrainment to its new-moon phase.
“The brightness of the full moon might also have reinforced the mood cycles’ entrainment to the full-moon phase of every second spring–neap gravimetric cycle and suppressed their entrainment to its new-moon phase.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationRecent reports of lunar month variation of total sleep time in healthy individuals seem consistent with the finding of lunar month variation in onsets of mania.
“In this regard, recent reports of lunar month variation of total sleep time in healthy individuals seem consistent with the finding of lunar month variation in onsets of mania”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 7 sources checked- cites [35] Röösli M, Jüni P, Braun-Fahrländer C, Brinkhof M, Low N, Egger M . Sleepless night, the moon is bright: longitudinal study of lunar phase and sleep. J Sleep Res 2006; 15: 149–153. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [36] Cajochen C, Altanay-Ekici S, Münch M, Frey S, Knoblauch V, Wirz-Justice A . Evidence that the lunar cycle influences human sleep. Curr Biol 2013; 23: 1485–1488. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [37] Smith M, Croy I, Waye KP . Human sleep and cortical reactivity are influenced by lunar phase. Curr Biol 2014; 24: R551–R552. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [38] Turányi CZ, Rónai KZ, Zoller R, Véber O, Czira ME, Újszászi Á et al. Association between lunar phase and sleep characteristics. Sleep Med 2014; 15: 1411–1416. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [39] della Monica C, Atzori G, Dijk D-J . Effects of lunar phase on sleep in men and women in Surrey. J Sleep Res 2015; 24: 687–694. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [40] Bauer M, Glenn T, Whybrow PC, Grof P, Rasgon N, Alda M, Marsh W et al. Changes in self-reported sleep duration predict mood changes in bipolar disorder. Psychol Med 2008; 38: 1069–1071. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [41] Leibenluft E, Albert PS, Rosenthal NE, Wehr TA . Longitudinal relationship between sleep and mood in rapid cycling bipolar patients. Psychiatry Res 1996; 63: 161–168. source
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationreasoningIf the relationship of mood cycles to lunar cycles is causal, antidepressant medications might have sensitized the individuals to the influence of lunar cycles.
“If the relationship of mood cycles to lunar cycles is causal, this observation raises the possibility that antidepressant medications somehow sensitized the individuals to the influence of lunar cycles.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationSome antidepressants have the demonstrated capacity to slow the intrinsic rhythm of the circadian pacemaker, thereby making it susceptible to capture by the slower-than-24-h rhythm of the lunar tidal day.
“This effect might result from the demonstrated capacity of some antidepressants to slow the intrinsic rhythm of the circadian pacemaker, thereby making it susceptible to capture by the slower-than-24-h rhythm of the lunar tidal day.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [31] Wirz-Justice A, Campbell IC . Antidepressant drugs can slow or dissociate circadian rhythms. Experientia 1982; 38: 1301–1309. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [32] Duncan WC, Tamarkin L, Sokolove P, Wehr TA . Chronic clorgyline treatment of the Syrian Hamster: An analysis of circadian effects. J Biol Rhythms 1988; 3: 305–322. source
Not checked in the free run.
The paper relies on this without support.
The spring–neap cycle has a period of 14.8 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
“The spring–neap cycle exerts its maximum effect on the amplitude of the moon’s gravimetric tides every 14.8 days, when the sun, moon and earth are aligned at the full moon and at the new moon.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The declination cycle has a period of 13.7 days and modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
“The declination cycle exerts its maximum effect on the tides, in one of the two daily tides, every 13.7 days, when the declination of the moon’s orbit relative to the plane of the earth’s equator causes the moon to reach the northern or southern extreme of its orbit.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The 206-day perigee-syzygy cycle modulates the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides.
“The 206-day perigee-syzygy cycle exerts its maximum effect on the tides every 206 days, when the sun, moon and earth are aligned at the full moon or the new moon, and the moon most nearly approaches the perigee of its elliptical orbit—an event commonly referred to as a ‘supermoon.’”
The paper relies on this without support.
The human circadian pacemaker can be entrained to a 24.84-h lunar tidal rhythm.
“transits of the tide intermittently entrained a component of the human circadian (or circalunar) timing system to its 24.84-h rhythm”
The paper relies on this without support.
The different methods used to document patients’ mood cycles yield comparable data suitable for time-series analysis.
“Clinical course was documented with calendar records of dates of switches back and forth between depression and mania that had been maintained by patients themselves (Patients 3, 4, 6, 8 and 11), daily self-ratings of mood (Patients 7, 9, 13 14 and 17) and by specially trained research nurses’ behavioral daily ratings of depression and mania (Patients 1, 2, 5, 10, 12, 15 and 16).”
The paper relies on this without support.
The historical mood cycle records of Patients 1 and 10 are comparable to modern records for the purpose of detecting lunar synchronies.
“Patients 1 and 10, whose mood cycles were documented by R. Gjessing in the 1920’s and 30’s in the pre-psychopharmacologcal era. The latter two patients were included in the analysis in order to explore the generalizability of methods and findings.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Bipolar mood cycles have been reported to oscillate in synchrony with either the full moon phase or the new moon phase of the Moon's luminance cycle.
“Similar to the present findings, bipolar mood cycles also have been reported to oscillate in synchrony with either the full moon phase or the new moon phase of the Moon’s luminance cycle (30)”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [30]
The Results (page unavailable) report that onsets of mania in some patients were synchronous with multiples of the spring–neap tidal cycle, whose peaks occur at full and new moon. But the paper reports synchrony with lunar tidal cycles, including the declination cycle, rather than establishing synchrony with the Moon’s luminance cycle as the claim states. The Discussion (page unavailable) treats a possible influence of moonlight as speculative. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOur observation that gravitation works as a zeitgeber on humans may explain why menstrual cycles, mood cycles, and cycles in sleep onset and sleep length coupled temporarily either close to the full moon or close to the new moon since at both phases, the Moon's gravimetric influence on Earth is similar.
“Our observation that gravitation works as a zeitgeber on humans may explain why menstrual cycles, mood cycles (30), and cycles in sleep onset and sleep length (31) coupled temporarily either close to the full moon or close to the new moon since at both phases, the Moon’s gravimetric influence on Earth is similar.”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [30]
Manic-depressive cycles in 18 patients with a rapid-cycling form of bipolar disorder oscillated in synchrony with biweekly surges in amplitude of the moon's twice-daily gravitational tides.
“A recent finding that 18 patients’ manic-depressive cycles oscillated in synchrony with biweekly surges in amplitude of the moon’s tides provided a clue to the cause of the sleep-disturbances.”
From Bipolar mood cycles associated with lunar entrainment of a circadian rhythm (2018) · cites this paper as [9]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Nine patients are listed for a finding reported in seven
MinorThe listed groups include Patients 3-6 (four), 8-10 (three), 16 and 17: nine patients, not seven.
“In seven patients”
“(Patients 3–6, 8–10, 16 and 17)”
Third-cycle synchrony counts disagree
MinorThe paper reports N=11 for synchrony with every third bi-weekly cycle. Its later lists identify seven patients with 1:3 synchrony and five different patients with 2:3 synchrony, for 12 patients with synchrony to every third cycle.
“Onsets of the patients’ manic episodes were synchronous with every second (N=8), third (N=11), fourth (N=2) and/or sixth (N=1) bi-weekly lunar tidal cycle”
“A 1:3 mode in seven patients (Patients 3, 4, 8–10, 15 and 16), in which every mood cycle was synchronous with every third bi-weekly lunar cycle (Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and Supplementary Figure S4).A 2:3 mode in five patients (Patients 1, 2, 7, 13 and 14), in which every second mood cycle was synchronous with every third bi-weekly lunar cycle”
Patient 17 is omitted from the perigee-syzygy patient count
MinorThe Results identify six patients whose shifts coincided with perigee-syzygies, but the Discussion reports the same finding for Patient 17, who is not among those six.
“In six patients (Patients 3, 4, 6–8 and 13), major shifts from shorter to longer cycle lengths appeared to coincide with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies in the moon’s orbit”
“With regard to causality, the case of index Patient 17 seems particularly compelling. Frequency shifts from shorter to longer mood cycles consistently coincided with 206-day recurrences of perigee-syzygies through five iterations (Figure 4).”
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Evolutionary and physiological arguments for the existence of a circalunar clock in humans
Helfrich-Förster, C., & Wehr, T. A. (2026) · BMC Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1186/s12862-026-02550-8 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationRedox impairment in affective disorders and therapeutic potential of phenolic bioactive compounds
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Mood Disorders and Stress-Related Disorders
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- Authors
- Wehr, T. A.
- Affiliations
- National Institute of Mental Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wehr, T A
- ORCID
- Wehr, T A
- Venue
- Molecular Psychiatry
- Published
- 2017-01-24
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 923-931
- ISSN
- 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5578
- PMC
- PMC5524624
- OpenAlex
- W2581183631
- Semantic Scholar
- 8514d911ffb49fff47ec661a02db8e6c02e54c81
- Cited by
- 71
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 4.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Government
- National Institutes of Health (Z99 MH999999)
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Keywords
- bipolar disorder, rapid cycling, spring-neap cycle, supermoon, circadian rhythm, body temperature, circadian pacemaker, entrainment
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Aged, Bipolar Disorder, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Gravitation, Humans, Light, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Sleep, Moon, Gravity Sensing
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
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