The tallest mountains in the world can beckon those who are ready to climb them, being temporarily insane.
According to the researchers, at present, these episodes of clouding of consciousness constitute a clear symptomatology, and the disease can be expressed depending on the altitude of the climber.
"The mountains are too attractive, but we never expected that they could provoke a loss of mind," - co-author of the research study, Dr. Hermann Brugger, told Science Science. Scientists gave a detailed description of their findings in the journal Psychological Medicine.
The researchers say future research on the disorder may help understand the mechanisms of transient psychosis.
Voices in the mountains
At high altitudes, climbers often experience symptoms of mental clouding, in which a person loses a sense of reality. Symptoms of psychotic episodes involve manifestations such as hallucinations and confusion.
Promotional video:
For example, when climber Jeremy Windsor climbed Mount Everest in 2008, he experienced a strange phenomenon typical of extreme mountaineering. A strange human silhouette appeared in Windsor's fevered imagination, who introduced himself as Jimmy. The vision accompanied him throughout the day. It spoke words of support to him, and then disappeared somewhere without a trace.
Until now, psychiatrists have believed that such psychotic episodes, along with intense migraines, dizziness, and impaired motor coordination, are absolute symptoms of the disease. Altitude sickness occurs due to oxygen starvation of the body, experienced at great heights, and can cause a dangerous increase in the volume of fluid in the lungs for the body or cerebral hydrocephalus.
In a new scientific study, Windsor and his colleagues have come to the interesting conclusion that psychosis that occurs in the mountains can be considered a disease in its own right, which is different from altitude sickness.
For such a conclusion to have a right to exist, the researchers analyzed data from eighty-three episodes of clouding of consciousness caused by high altitude. They were taken from German mountaineering literature.
The researchers found references to psychosis symptoms such as auditory hallucinations. The voices in the mountains were triggered by altitude, but not all cases were clearly associated with any symptoms of altitude sickness or past manifestations of mental insanity. “People who have experienced symptoms of the disease at high altitude are completely healthy in normal life and do not show a tendency to psychosis,” Brugger said.
Isolated psychosis
Altitude psychosis appears to develop at an altitude of over 7000 meters. Scientists are not sure what can provoke this pathological condition. It may be caused by similar conditions seen in a disease developing at high altitude.
Among them should be allocated oxygen deficiency or early stages of hydrocephalus in certain areas of the brain. It is possible that the onset of the disease is not related to height at all. "It is known that, in turn, the complete loss of contact with people and loneliness for a long time can lead to various hallucinations," - said Brugger.
Rapid recovery of optimal psychological status
“The symptoms of this syndrome seem to disappear without a trace as soon as the climbers leave the danger zone,” the scientists said in their study.
Brugger noted that people just make a complete recovery.
“Despite all the scientific findings, this syndrome is clearly associated with significant risk of accidents. Even a small malfunction of the nervous system can be fatal at extreme altitudes, Brugger said. “It is imperative that climbers are warned of this risk, and also aware that these hallucinations are not real and that these fearful effects are reversible. To eliminate this symptomatology, climbers should take constructive measures during their stay at high altitudes."
Scientists could try to simulate insanity by placing subjects in special chambers in which artificial conditions of extreme heights will be created. For example, oxygen will be supplied to them and air pressure of low density will be created. “Such experiences can help explain the temporary psychosis,” Brugger said.
Doctors from Nepal to join the study
Scientists plan to work with Nepalese doctors at the central Mount Everest camp to determine the frequency with which isolated psychosis occurs at high altitude. “Scientists will use a special survey to collect data from climbers who climb Everest,” Brugger said.
Maya Muzashvili