Fascinating article in WaPo about possible autoimmune causes of some mental disorders. When Ian Mackay and I were writing Intolerant Bodies: A Short History of Autoimmunity (2014), Ian wanted to include these early findings, but I couldn't see how at the time. My mistake. wapo.st/3twWa9n

A catatonic woman awakened after 20 years. Her story may change psychiatry.

New research suggests that a subset of patients with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia may actually have autoimmune disease that attacks the brain.

@hanspols.bsky.social reminds me (now) that the Wassermann reaction, as Fleck implied, signals autoimmune activity in syphilis. Perhaps tertiary syphilis, with its neurological damage, is autoimmune? Are there any studies? We could have added a note on recent research in autoimmune psychiatry there.

“Intolerant Bodies” is sooo good. Among the best in the entire series; I’ve taught with it!