The invisible plague: the rise of mental illness from 1750 to the present

Abstract

Insanity, in one guise or another, has always been with us. In the modern period, however, it has appeared in previously unseen masks and in much greater numbers. The prevalence of insanity, which had once been considerably less than one case per 1000 total population, has risen beyond five cases in 1000. Why has insanity reached epidemic proportions? What are the causes of mental illness? Why do we continue to deny this rising plague and how does this denial affect our ability to assist those afflicted? This text examines the records on insanity in England, Ireland, Canada and the United States since 1750 and argues that insanity is an unrecognized modern-day plague. It refutes interpretations of insanity as a socially and economically driven phenomenon, insisting on the biological reality of the affliction. The book examines the reasons why epidemic insanity has been so profoundly misunderstood and concludes with speculations regarding its possible biological causes. By failing to appreciate the complete history of insanity, the book argues, we fail to understand its role in such events as the Salem witch trials, as well as the important role it has played in modern literature. It claims that we also fail to fully understand and address contemporary tragedies of the epidemic, such as the number of individuals with schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness who are homeless or in jails.

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