Infectious Behavior

In Infectious Behavior, neurobiologist Paul Patterson examines the involvement of theimmune system in autism, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. Although genetic approachesto these diseases have garnered the lion's share of publicity and funding, scientists are uncoveringevidence of the important avenues of communication between the brain and the immune system and theirinvolvement in mental illness. Patterson focuses on this brain-immune crosstalk, exploring thepossibility that it may help us understand the causes of these common but still mysterious diseases.The heart of this engaging book, accessible to nonscientists, concerns the involvement of the immunesystems of the pregnant woman and her fetus, and a consideration of maternal infection as a riskfactor for schizophrenia and autism. Patterson reports on research that may shed light on today'sautism epidemic. He also outlines the risks and benefits of both maternal and postnatalvaccinations. In the course of his discussion, Patterson offers a short history of immunemanipulation in treating mental illness (recounting some frightening but fascinating earlyexperiments) and explains how the immune system influences behavior and how the brain regulates theimmune system, looking in particular at stress and depression. He examines the prenatal origins ofadult disease and evidence for immune involvement in autism, schizophrenia, and depression. Finally,he describes the promise shown by recent animal experiments that have led to early clinical trialsof postnatal and adult treatments for patients with autism and relateddisorders.

For questions for the author, and updates on the various topics coveredin the book since its publication, please check the book's website:http://mitpress.mit.edu/infectiousbehavior

Paul H. Patterson, a developmental neurobiologist, is Anne P. and Benjamin R. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences at the California Institute of Technology and a Research Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. He is the coauthor (with Alan Brown) of The Origins of Schizophrenia.