Brain on Fire

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

First edition hardback cover
Author Susannah Cahalan
Country United States
Language English
Subject Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Genre Autobiography
Published 2012, Free Press
Media type Print, e-book, audiobook
Pages 288 pages
ISBN 9781451621372

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness is a 2012 New York Times Bestselling autobiography by New York Post writer Susannah Cahalan. It was first published on November 13, 2012 through Free Press in hardback, and was later reprinted in paperback by Simon & Schuster after the two companies merged. The book details Cahalan's struggle with a rare autoimmune disease and her recovery.[1]

Synopsis

The book narrates Cahalan's issues with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and the process by which she was diagnosed with this form of encephalitis. She wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the events of the previous month, during which time she would have violent episodes and delusions. Her eventual diagnosis is made more difficult by various physicians misdiagnosing her with several theories such as "partying too much" and schizoaffective disorder.[2] Eventually several physicians, including Dr. Souhel Najjar, began to suspect that Cahalan was suffering from an autoimmune disease.[2] Dr. Najjar diagnosed Cahalan using a test that involved her drawing a clock, a test normally given to people suspected of having dementia or Alzheimer's disease.[3] Rather than drawing the clock face normally, the disease caused Cahalan to draw all of the numbers 1 through 12 on the right face of the clock, because the right side of her brain, which regulates the left side of the body, was inflamed. Najjar used this to help diagnose Cahalan and start her road to recovery.[4]

The book also covers Cahalan's life after her recovery, including her reactions to watching videotapes of her psychotic episodes while in the hospital. Cahalan also discusses her symptoms prior to her hospitalization, as she had previously been diagnosed by both a psychiatrist and by herself with bipolar disorder.[2] While researching, she learned that the disease is fairly new and had only been officially discovered three years before she became ill.[5] Her research indicated that in 2009 most people with the disease were either misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Cahalan was fortunate to be correctly diagnosed because, according to Dr. Najjar's estimates, only 10 percent of people with the disease were properly diagnosed at that time.[6] Since then, a better understanding of the disease and its symptoms has resulted in more frequent diagnosis and treatment.

Reception

Critical reception for Brain on Fire has been mostly positive. NPR commented that the author was "a naturally talented prose stylist" and that "she perfectly tempers her brutal honesty with compassion and something like vulnerability."[7] The Washington Post praised Cahalan's researching abilities for the book, as they noted that she had to rely on information from others, including family members and medical documents.[8]

Film adaptation

Main article: Brain on Fire (film)

In May 2014, it was announced that the book was being adapted to film. American actress Chloë Grace Moretz is set to star[9] as Cahalan and Charlize Theron is producing the film.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ Couric, Katie. "Brain on Fire: Susannah Cahalan's Medical Mystery". KatieCouric.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Kahn, Jennifer. "Under Attack: One Woman's Terrifying Battle With an Auto-Immune Disease". Oprah. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ Forman MD, Howard (January 23, 2013). "Brain on Fire: An Interview With Susannah Cahalan on Anti–NMDA Receptor Autoimmune Encephalitis". Psychiatric Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  4. ↑ Cahalan, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, pp. 131-33.
  5. ↑ Edemariam, Aida (January 24, 2013). "Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan - review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ Cahalan, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, pp. 221-27.
  7. ↑ Schaub, Michael (November 14, 2012). "'Brain On Fire' Details An Out-Of-Mind Experience". NPR. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ Scarf, Maggie (January 12, 2013). "'Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness' by Susannah Cahalan". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chloe-grace-moretz-star-brain-805285?utm_source=twitter
  10. ↑ "Dakota Fanning to star in Charlize Theron's 'Brain On Fire'". The Times of India. May 2, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  11. ↑ Zeba Blay (May 3, 2014). "Dakota Fanning to star in Brain On Fire adaptation". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.

External links

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