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Princeton University Library Catalog
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Infectious madness : the surprising science of how we "catch" mental illness / Harriet A. Washington.
Author
Washington, Harriet A.
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Format
Book
Language
English
Εdition
First Edition.
Published/Created
New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
Description
292 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Availability
Copies in the Library
Location
Call Number
Status
Location Service
Notes
Firestone Library - Stacks
RC455.4.B5 W373 2015
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Details
Subject(s)
Mental illness
—
Pathophysiology
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Mental illness
—
Etiology
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Psychiatric epidemiology
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Mental illness
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Summary note
What causes mental illness? Traditionally, we've blamed bad parenting, stress, trauma, genetics, and brain-chemistry imbalances. But in recent years, a new theory has quietly achieved critical mass. In her astonishing new book, author Harriet Washington reveals that many instances of schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimer's, Tourette's, bipolar disorder, and anorexia are likely caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses. That's right--you can "catch" mental illness. Weaving together cutting-edge research and startling case studies, Infectious Madness shows how strep throat can trigger OCD in a formerly healthy teen, how a pregnant woman's contact with cat litter can lead to schizophrenia in her child, and how gut bacteria that leak into the bloodstream may play a role in autism. Thanks in part to the sheer speed of their reproduction, microbes are beating us at a game of evolutionary chess; we must be vigilant if we hope to protect ourselves and our children from mind-altering infections. Washington shares innovative tactics from the front lines of medicine--like worm therapy, phages (viruses that infect bacteria), and the use of one microbe to fight another--and explains the dangers of carelessness, bad environmental policy, and misinformation. Rich in science, tantalizing medical mysteries, and practical advice, Infectious Madness pulls back the curtain on a new paradigm with profound implications for us all.--Adapted from book jacket.
Bibliographic references
Includes bibliographical references (pages 255-279) and index.
Contents
Germ theory redux : the acquisition of mental illness
The fetus as battleground : early exposure and psychiatric fate
Growing pains : "catching" anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette's
Gut feelings : the brain in your belly
Microbial culture : pathogens and the shaping of societies
Winning at evolutionary chess : strategies to outwit pathogens
Tropical madness : infection and neglect in the developing world.
Show 4 more Contents items
ISBN
9780316277808
0316277800
9780316277815
0316277819
LCCN
2015935999
OCLC
900011975
Statement on language in description
Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage.
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