Infectious Madness: The Surprising Science of How We Catch Mental Illness

by Washington, Harriet A.
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ISBN: 9780316277815
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Used - Trade Paperback - 9780316277815

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Overview

"Fascinating...A superb book."--Robert Sapolsky, Stanford professor of neuroscience and neurosurgery and author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

What causes mental illness? We've long blamed stress, trauma, and brain-chemistry imbalances. But a new theory is quietly achieving critical mass. In INFECTIOUS MADNESS, award-winning science writer Harriet Washington reveals that schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimer's, and anorexia also may be caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Weaving together cutting-edge research and case studies, INFECTIOUS MADNESS shows how strep throat can trigger rapid-onset OCD in a formerly healthy teen and how contact with cat litter elevates the risk of schizophrenia. Featuring a new afterword by the author, and rich in science, medical mysteries, cultural nuance, and evidence-based recommendations, INFECTIOUS MADNESS pulls back the curtain on a new paradigm with profound implications for us all.

  • Format: TradePaperback
  • Author: Washington, Harriet A.
  • ISBN: 9780316277815
  • Condition: Used
  • Dimensions: 8.20 x 0.90
  • Number Of Pages: 320
  • Publication Year: 2016

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