The role of Borrelia in mental health

Many people are unaware that there can be a direct connection between Borreliosis and mental illness.

Scientists and physicians in many different countries have discovered that a significant number of people with mental illness and diseases of the nervous system can be cured, or their condition improved, by treatment with antibiotics. In other words, bacteria can make people mentally ill as well as physically ill.

The connection

Around the world, certain cases of Schizophrenia, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and even Stroke, have been found to have something in common with each other; namely, Borrelia bacteria.

Borrelia spirochaetes are similar to Treponema spirochaetes (the causative agent of Syphilis), which were once a major cause of mental ill-health before the days of penicillin. Both bacteria are large and spiral in shape (spirochaetes) but, unlike Syphilis, Borreliosis can be hard to detect so might not even be considered when trying to find the cause of a patient’s ill-health.

Physical effects on the brain or nervous system

Borreliosis can cause a vast range of symptoms, from mild flu-like aches, fever, or skin rashes, to heart-block and paralysis. But this nasty bacterium can also cause a rapid onset of psychosis.

Bacteria such as Streptococcus species (which normally live harmlessly in our throats, skin and other tissue) are able to invade our brains. Likewise, Borrelia can enter the central nervous system, causing severe and sometimes life-threatening complications. Victims can suffer from meningitis, hallucinations, panic disorders, and manic depression. Some physicians believe that Borrelia can cause anorexia or episodes of uncontrollable rage (sometimes referred to as ‘Lyme rage’).

Psychological effects of prolonged suffering

The neuropsychiatric manifestation of a Borrelia infection is not the only problem. Mental illness can also occur due to the patient suffering from debilitating symptoms for months or years on end. This may arise from an inadequately treated infection, or from immunologic mechanisms that are triggered by the infection. Some patients are unable to cope with the lack of quality of life, and sadly this can sometimes result in suicide.

Worldwide studies provide evidence

Evidence of the link, between cases of mental illness or brain disease and Borreliosis infection, is found in a number of medical studies published in recent literature. Descriptions of these studies are given in following pages, and include:

  1. US study on the psychiatric effects of Borreliosis in children.
  2. Case study of suspected ALS patient in Austria.
  3. Psychotropic drug failure in Dutch patient with psychosis.
  4. Study of psychiatric patients in Prague.
  5. Case study of German patient with schizophrenia-like symptoms.
  6. Boston study of patients with memory and concentration deficit.
  7. Japanese case study - An autopsied report.
  8. Psychiatric and neurological presentations of Borrelial infection.
  9. Post-mortem brain tissue samples of Alzheimer's patients.
  10. Geographical and Seasonal study of MS and schizophrenia.
  11. Borrelia antibodies in CFS patients.
  12. Aggression and Lyme disease.
  13. Special report: Highlights of the 2000 Institute on Psychiatric Services.

References for each case study are provided on the same page as the description.