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The Invisible Plague: The Rise of mental Illness from 1750 to the Present Hardcover – January 10, 2002

by E. Fuller Torrey M.D. (Author), Judy Miller (Author)

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The prevalence of insanity, which was once considerably less than one case per 1,000 total population, has risen beyond five cases in 1,000. Why has mental illness reached epidemic proportions? What are the causes of severe mental illness? Why do we continue to deny the rising numbers, and how does this denial affect our ability to help those who are afflicted?

In The Invisible Plague, E. Fuller Torrey and Judy Miller examine the records on insanity in England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States over a 250-year period, concluding, through both qualitative and quantitative evidence, that disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar illness are an unrecognized, modern-day plague. This book is a unique and major contribution to medical history. Until now, insanity, and its apparent rise over the centuries, has been interpreted as a socially and economically driven phenomenon. Torrey and Miller insist upon the biological reality of psychiatric disease and examine the reasons why its contemporary prevalence has been so profoundly misunderstood.

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Editorial Reviews

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In their refreshing, thoroughly documented, cogent reply to the current generally accepted interpretation of the incidence and even the existence of insanity, Torrey and Miller point out many holes in the arguments of other recent historians of the subject and don't push any single approach to schizophrenia and manic depression. Instead, they ask for a spirit of inquiry because so much about the rate of growth and the causes of mental illness remains unclear that open-minded research and clinical studies are still very much needed. Although there are a lot of statistics and graphs, as well as explication of them, in the book, there is also enough history of diagnosis and treatment in the U.S., England, Ireland, and Canada to fascinate readers whose favorite topic isn't numbers. The book delves deeply into clinical accounts and historic insane-asylum politics, funding, and social acceptance. Frequent reference to literary works and authors lightens the tone of the proceedings, as does the authors' hypothesis of a relationship between the wearing of stockings and the incidence of insanity. William Beatty
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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"The authors have done impressive research locating an enormous number of examples of mental distress in the geographic and temporal areas of their focus." -- Journal of the History of Medicine

"This highly informative and stimulating work has certainly raised some neglected questions that demand more serious scientific attention." -- Nature

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Product details

Hardcover: 438 pages
Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 1 edition (January 10, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0813530032
ISBN-13: 978-0813530031
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #27 in Books > Medical Books > Psychology > Medicine & Psychology
- #208 in Books > Medical Books > Psychology > History
- #218 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Mental Illness

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

5 star		69%
4 star		15%
3 star		8%
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A Cry for Prevention

Bya readeron September 10, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Despite the fanciful cover, this is a very serious book. It attempts to make the reader aware of how insanity is increasing since the 18th century. With the Zika virus now, we can visually see the effects of an organism on the prenatal brain. The March of Dimes has taken a leadership role in making the case for prevention. One sees the forces of financial control in the U S Congress digging in their heels. We will see what will be done about Zika.

Dr. Torrey had devoted his life to mental illness. The March of Dimes is starting to make the case for prevention.
Articles about the mentally ill are abundantly found in newspapers and magazines. We just need to find the exact mechanism that goes awry. But that too will be found. Hopefully then the March of Dimes will show its full wonderful force. We will see the forces of the U S Congress dig in, but too much has happened. We will then see a reprint of THE INVISIBLE PLAGUE. It will have a serious cover, because those of us with mental illness know we are dealing with tragic stuff.

Luanne Holsinger

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Leaves one wondering about the 1990s in the US

ByDavidMon August 8, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It is interesting that the US stopped tracking insanity in the 1990s when the rate was on an upward swing.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Interesting history

ByAbbey Strausson May 12, 2007

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is a fascinating review of the history of mental illness for periods of time that are usually rather hard to research. I cannot speak for the accuracy since I am not a historian and I do not have the resource library to check out it's references, but it seems quite reasonable and well researched. I enjoyed the book for the thoughts it provoked and how it filled in gaps about the development of the notions of mental illness over the last several hundred years. This book has been the key to many intreguing disucssions.

0Comment 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

An invaluable history.

ByJSterritton May 24, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

An excellent work of scholarship.

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Five Stars

ByDawnon August 8, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The book was in excellent shape and is exactly what I was looking for.

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Well written, well researched

ByA customeron August 14, 2003

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book was a delightful read. It is a fascinating trip back through history on a thought provoking topic, and the authors present their view in a scholarly manner. There is enough anecdotal information to keep it moving and interesting, and it is far from being "dry". If you have even a casual interest in the rise of mental illness in Britain and North America you'll definitely enjoy this book.

0Comment 16 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

PRETTY GOOD

ByMARKCOon May 8, 2005

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I THOUGHT THE BOOK COVERED A GOOD AMOUNT OF GROUND. ALTHOUGH SOME WAS A LITTLE DEEP FOR ME IN THE CONTENT. BUT OVERALL I ENJOYED IT AND WILL BE READING SOME PARTS OVER AT TIMES.

0Comment 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A Great History of Insanity

ByRichard Reese (author of Understanding Sustainability)on December 16, 2012

Format: Paperback

Are we living in an insanity epidemic? Yes indeed, we certainly are, according to The Invisible Plague by Dr. Edwin Fuller Torrey and Judy Miller. This book provides an illuminating history of insanity, focusing on the last three centuries in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. "Insanity" here refers to two conditions, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive). Today, "psychosis" is the proper term for describing insanity and lunacy, but the authors preferred to use history's word, insanity.

The objective of this book was to convince us that an epidemic of insanity has been growing in Western society, based on a small mountain of circumstantial evidence. Insanity seems to be one of the many unintended consequences of the Industrial Revolution. In the four regions studied, the last 300 years have been an era of turbulent change on a colossal scale.

By the end of the nineteenth century, the British Empire had spread to every corner of the world. The news coming back from frontier outposts consistently reported that insanity was rare or unknown in "primitive" societies, where folks enjoyed a far slower way of life. Long-term stability was the opposite of crazy.

In Britain, a number of observers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were well aware of a growing insanity epidemic, and some actually linked it to civilization -- it was simply an acceptable cost for the wonders of progress, wealth, and luxury. Living in such amazing times over-excited the minds of those who were mentally fragile, and this was simply unavoidable. Some even saw rising insanity as a badge of honor, indisputable proof that civilization was thriving. Lunatic asylums were booming, praise the Lord!

By the end of the story, the authors concluded that insanity was growing at a much faster rate than the population. In the 200 years between 1750 and 1950, the rate of insanity increased 700 percent, and even more in the US and Ireland. There is an invisible plague all around us! What can we do?

A specific cause for the insanity epidemic has not been discovered, but contributing factors might be associated with diet, alcohol, toxins, medical care, and/or infectious agents. It's more common in men and immigrants, especially when the immigrants are a small minority in the community. There is a clear association with the rise of industrialization and urbanization.

In the British Medical Journal, Marco Picchioni reported that schizophrenia "is more frequent in people born in cities -- the larger the city, and the longer the person has lived there, the greater the risk."

An observer in 1877 commented that the rate of insanity was growing so quickly that it was only a matter of time before the majority of people were insane. Hmmm... Are we there yet, Mommy?

Richard Adrian Reese
Author of What Is Sustainable