

Neurologist Souhel Najjar recognized the symptoms of a newly discovered autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the brain, a disease now thought to be tied to both schizophrenia and autism, and perhaps the root of "demonic possessions" throughout history. Susannah's astonishing memoir chronicles the swift path of her illness and the lucky, last-minute intervention led by one of the few doctors capable of saving her life. Yet, only weeks earlier she had been a healthy, ambitious twenty-four-year-old. Her medical records chronicled a month long hospital stay of which she had no memory at all the records showed psychosis, violence, and dangerous instability. the author woke up alone in a strange hospital room, strapped to her bed, under guard, and unable to move or speak. The film follows the harrowing experience of a writer struggling with a rare neurological disease from when she first suffers symptoms to the many attempts at diagnosing it and the eventual discovery of the real cause of her illness.
#Brain on fire professional
The story of twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan and the life-saving discovery of the autoimmune disorder that nearly killed her - and that could perhaps be the root of "demonic possessions" throughout history. Brain on Fire Edit Summaries A young, capable professional cannot explain her newly erratic behavior. Case studies.ĩ781451621372 145162137X 9781451621396 (ebook) 1451621396 (ebook) In Brain on Fire, Cahalan now in the post-recovery stage of her life attempts to recapture the memories and events from her month of madness before. The disease temporarily changes Susannah from a driven, strong-willed, and passionate person into someone who is paranoid, angry, and mean. Diagnostic errors - United States - Case studies. Brain on Fire tells the story of 24-year-old Susannah Cahalan, a journalist at the New York Post who suddenly contracts the disease anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis. Limbic system - Diseases - Patients - United States - Biography. Frontal lobes - Diseases - Patients - United States - Biography. Autoimmune diseases - Patients - United States - Biography. Encephalitis - Patients - United States - Biography. Despite this, Dad mostly refuses to talk about what happened, as it's too painful for him.Saved in: Bibliographic Details Author / Creator:Ĭahalan, Susannah - Health. Over the course of Susannah's recovery, she and Dad become especially close as a result of how much time they spent together in the hospital. Najjar informs Mom and Dad that he'd like to perform a brain biopsy on Susannah, Dad especially struggles: his mother was an RN and never spoke well of brain surgeons. He and Mom keep a joint journal to communicate with each other about Susannah's progress and what the doctors say, and he also keeps a personal journal that he later shares with Susannah.

When her paranoia recedes, he begins spending his time in her room and feeds her breakfast daily. Despite Susannah's protests, Dad spends every day with her at the hospital outside her room. She also hallucinates that Dad killed Giselle, after which she refuses to allow him into her hospital room at NYU. When Susannah spends the night with Dad just prior to her hospitalization, Susannah says unspeakable things to Dad that make him cry. He and Susannah aren't particularly close at the beginning of the memoir. Writer/director Gerard Barrett most likely commenced production on Brain on Fire with a sincere effort to shed light on the medical emergency that. Dad lives with his wife, Giselle, in Brooklyn Heights.
