How The Brain Lost Its Mind: Sex, Hysteria and the Riddle of Mental Illness

In 1882, Jean-Martin Charcot was the premiere physician in Paris, having just established a neurology clinic at the infamous Salpêtrière Hospital. He revolutionized the treatment of mental illness by assessing the dismal conditions and upgrading the facilities. However, his work took a bizarre turn when he brought mesmerism - hypnotism - into his clinic, abandoning his pursuit of the biological basis of illness in favor of the far sexier and theatrical treatment of female hysterics. This and a general fear of contagion set the stage for Sigmund Freud, whose seductive theory, Freudian analysis, brought sex and hysteria onto the psychiatrist couch, leaving the brain behind.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2021
Publisher: Atlantic Books

In 1882, Jean-Martin Charcot, a renowned physician in Paris, established a neurology clinic at the infamous Salpêtrière Hospital, known as a grand asylum of human misery. Upon assessing the dismal conditions, Charcot swiftly upgraded the facilities, revolutionizing the treatment of mental illness. Many of his patients suffered from neurosyphilis, a disease that affected prominent figures such as mad poets, novelists, painters, and musicians, leading to overcrowding in European asylums. This sexually transmitted disease, known as the "great imitator," presented symptoms that mimicked those of various biological diseases and mental illnesses, making it a valuable tool for understanding the brain and mind. However, Charcot's work took an unexpected turn when he incorporated mesmerism, or hypnotism, into his clinic. He abandoned his pursuit of the biological basis of illness in favor of the far more captivating and theatrical treatment of female hysterics, whose symptoms resembled those seen in brain disease but had elusive origins. This decision, coupled with a general fear of contagion, set the stage for Sigmund Freud, whose seductive theory, Freudian analysis, brought sex and hysteria onto the psychiatrist's couch, leaving the brain behind.

How The Brain Lost Its Mind, a captivating book, tells this rich and compelling story and raises a multitude of philosophical and practical questions. It explores the distinction between a sick mind and a sick brain and raises the crucial question: where should neurology and psychiatry converge to explore not just the brain but the nature of the human psyche? This exploration is essential in understanding the complexities of the human mind and psyche, as it seeks to bridge the gap between the biological and psychological realms.

Weight: 248g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786491831
Edition number: Main