The Moon and Mental Illness: A Failure to Confirm the Transylvania Effect

The Transylvania effect—the notion that certain patient behavior coincides with moon phases—was carefully tested during a 3-mo. summer period in 1969. Three non-reactive measures were employed and no significant results were found on any of them. It was concluded that a meaningful correlation between the moon phase and acting out behavior of mental patients did not exist and, therefore, did nor explain many unresolved problems in the area.