Many people worry about catching a cold for flu during the winter, but that seems to be their only concern. However, researchers are starting to think that mental illnesses could be contracted the same way. Mental illnesses are thought to have a strong biological component, that there exists a genetic link for the development of conditions like schizophrenia and depression. Now, doctors are wondering if these illnesses could be cause by viruses.
Right now, all speculation is just that, speculation but the theory is that a virus or bacteria could cause mental illness. Research is based on the fact that diseases like syphilis cause mental illness but with a simple dose of antibiotics the symptoms of mental illness will fade.
Researchers have also been studying people who have been diagnosed with some types of psychosis that also have physical symptoms. The theory is that mental illness should only be mental if there was not some kind of biological connection. However, many people who are diagnosed with a type of psychosis also shows signs of poor balance, sensitivity to light, chest pains, fatigue, or flu like symptoms.
There are bacteria infections like lyme disease that can enter the body, even the brain and lay dormant for years before symptoms start to appear which can appear psychotic. As researchers work with various diseases they are finding more and more connections between bugs and psychosis. However, this does mean that if you suffer from depression that you might actually be suffering from a disease.
It is an interesting theory to think that we could locked away for psychosis when really we are suffering from a bacteria.