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Parasitic infections and psychopathology: a preliminary hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Joseph Pachman  and
Susan A. Belanger
Joseph Pachman
Affiliation:
Yale University School of Medicine, USA
Susan A. Belanger
Affiliation:
Fairfield University, USA
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Summary

The relationship between chronic parasitic loads and psychopathology is examined. Research suggests that: (1) psychiatric disorders are more prevalent in less developed countries where parasitic loads are more endemic; (2) individual patients with parasitic loads are more likely to exhibit mental status changes; (3) there is an improvement in the mental status of a subset of psychiatric patients following treatment for parasites. Inasmuch as the prevalence of parasitic content is underestimated in both more developed and less developed countries, an awareness of this relationship should increase understanding of the needs of infected individuals, and be taken into consideration when evaluating psychiatric patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , April 1994 , pp. 179 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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