For most of human history, researchers have pondered why people become mentally ill. Possible causes they have debated include genetics, chemical imbalances, stress, and social problems. Christopher M. Palmer, a Harvard psychiatrist, proposes a new theory in Brain Energy.
Time for Teamwork
The key idea of Palmer’s theory of brain energy is that all mental illnesses are metabolic abnormalities. Metabolic disorders impact the entire body, and individuals with one are more likely to get another. If the health care industry were to treat mental illness as a metabolic problem, siloed specialties such as neurology, cardiology, and endocrinology would cooperate on more efficient and thorough treatment.
