encephalitis linked to depression and suicide
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encephalitis, a condition which causes inflammation of the brain, has been linked to depression. getty
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frank parent was just getting something out of the fridge in his montreal condo one day last september when he collapsed to the floor. the 59-year-old computer sales and project manager was supposedly in good health, carrying on his regular day-to-day when it happened. luckily, his daughter and wife were in the kitchen at the time.
“i fell on the floor. and then, needless to say, my wife was panicking, my daughter, thank god she’s going through med school, took the situation in hand,” parent says of his fuzzy recall of the event. “i had no clue what was happening. i was in another world type of thing.”
he was rushed to hospital where doctors first thought a blood clot had cut off blood flow to his brain, causing a stroke. but a ct scan of his brain baffled the medical team, so a spinal tap was done to get a cerebral fluid sample for further testing — that sample was later sent to experts around the globe to identify the issue.
what is encephalitis?
parent was later told that a virus had attacked his brain. he was diagnosed with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that’s caused by an infection or through your immune system attacking your brain in error.
according to the encephalitis society brain inflammation advocacy and support charity, 77 per cent of people worldwide don’t know what encephalitis is, so parent and his family were not alone. a neurological condition that is not widely understood, encephalitis is more common than other brain-related disorders like multiple sclerosis, bacterial meningitis and cerebral palsy.
encephalitis can be caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses
because symptoms can be mild, mimicking the flu, or other illnesses — headaches, confusion and high temperatures — medical care can be delayed, increasing the risk that patients will be left with life-changing cognitive, behavioural, or physical changes, such as memory issues, trouble with coordination or muscle weakness. there is also a chance of death.
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as for what causes encephalitis, according to brain injury canada, brain inflammation can develop from exposure to bacteria, parasites (such as ticks), and viral infections (including covid-19). the west nile virus, for example, is just one virus that can cause encephalitis.
parent, who calls the condition “the beast,” spent a month in hospital, gradually regaining his strength and mobility, and was discharged in early october at his request, but left to figure out next steps on his own. he became depressed and now suffers from intense anxiety.
he finally found help earlier this year through the encephalitis society and is recovering with therapy. he’s also returned to his job, although he has some memory loss.
encephalitis linked to depression, suicide
two new research papers from authors in mexico and the u.k., have linked brain inflammation and depression, revealing that encephalitis patients are at a high risk of suicide. they were both published on feb. 22, world encephalitis day, to help raise awareness.
the mexican paper, published in the journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, looked at data from 120 patients, where 12.5 per cent had suicidal behaviours during early stages of the condition with nearly half of those 12.5 per cent attempting suicide. the u.k. web-based study surveyed 445 respondents from 31 countries and found that 37.5 per cent of survivors of encephalitis had considered suicide and 4.4 per cent had attempted suicide since their diagnosis.
the research papers highlight the mental health implications that often come with encephalitis but haven’t been widely investigated. the mental health impacts can happen very early on when people are in hospital, after their discharge or during any relapses, so the aim is to encourage all treating health professionals to ask about and risk assess for these issues during all stages of encephalitis.
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“we know that there’s this stigma around mental health problems, so we want people to understand that this is an issue and to get people talking about it,” says ava easton, an author on both papers, a health researcher and the ceo of the encephalitis society. she’s also a member of the world health organization’s covid-19 neuro research coalition.
treatment can involve talk therapy, medication, physiotherapy, speech therapy and other interventions to help people regain function and live healthy lives. the stolen lives video from the encephalitis society shows the debilitating effects faced by survivors and their families.
“for anyone affected by encephalitis and any associated mental health problems, including any thoughts of suicide and self-harm, we want them to know that these symptoms are often highly treatable and that help and support is available,” she says. “and if people don’t know where to turn in their communities or health-care circles, they can turn to the encephalitis society wherever they live in the world, and my team will help them source the right support and treatment in their own communities.”
as for parent, the effects of encephalitis continue to haunt him.
“my sense of humour was sucked out. i came close to committing suicide,” he says, adding that, despite this, he has hope. “i want to let people suffering from this know that they can overcome this with assistance from professionals. if i can help one person, i have made sense of my life.”
karen hawthorne is a toronto-based writer.
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