Brain on fire

my month of madness

by

English language

Published Nov. 7, 2012 by Free Press.

ISBN:
978-1-4516-2137-2
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (3 reviews)

The book narrates Cahalan's issues with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and the process by which she was diagnosed with this form of encephalitis. She wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the events of the previous month, during which time she would have violent episodes and delusions. Her eventual diagnosis is made more difficult by various physicians misdiagnosing her with several theories such as "partying too much" and schizoaffective disorder.

The book also covers Cahalan's life after her recovery, including her reactions to watching videotapes of her psychotic episodes while in the hospital.

1 edition

reviewed Brain on fire by Susannah Cahalan

Review of 'Brain on fire' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Excellent first hand account of a brain infection that presents as mental illness. It's truly revealing how much stigma we put on mental illness and neurological problems when seen through the lens of the root issue being a "real" illness like encephalitis. The diagnostic tools most doctors use are inadequate, being subjective behavioral measures.

I've concluded from this book and other books on medicine and medical practice that we need to update medical practices to be data driven, starting with performing high resolution, full-body imaging every year. Any areas of inflammation, any odd tumors or large changes from previous scans demands immediate attention, and eliminate so much guesswork that plagues patients know, who know something is wrong, but encounter only doctors convinced they drink too much or are "crazy."

avatar for markpoole

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tracynicholrose

rated it

3 stars

Subjects

  • Mental health
  • Frontal lobes
  • Diseases
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Limbic system
  • Patients
  • Case studies
  • Health
  • Diagnostic errors
  • Encephalitis
  • Biography

Places

  • United States