Toxic causes of mental illness are overlooked.

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Neurotoxicology. 2008 Jun 24. [Epub ahead of print]

Toxic causes of mental illness are overlooked.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18621076?dopt=AbstractPlus

Genuis SJ.

University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine, 2935-66 Street,

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6K 4C1.

While proper brain function requires the complex interaction of

chemicals perpetually occupied in purposeful biochemistry, it is well

established that certain toxic substances have the potential to disrupt

normal brain physiology and to impair neurological homeostasis. As well

as headache, cognitive dysfunction, memory disturbance, and other

neurological signs and symptoms, disruption of brain function may also

manifest as subtle or overt alteration in thoughts, moods, or behaviors.

Over the last four decades, there has been the unprecedented development

and release of a swelling repertoire of potentially toxic chemicals

which have the capability to inflict brain compromise. Although the

ability of xenobiotics to induce clinical illness is well established,

the expanding public health problem of widespread toxicant exposure in

the general population is a relatively new phenomenon that has spawned

escalating concern. The emerging area of clinical care involving the

assessment and management of accrued toxic substances such as heavy

metals, pesticides, plasticizers and other endocrine disrupting or

neurotoxic compounds has not been fully appreciated by the medical

community and has yet to be incorporated into the clinical practice of

many consultants or primary care practitioners.

PMID: 18621076

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