Camilla Jessen
A terrifying illness made patients gouge out their eyes, and doctors still don’t know why.
A terrifying illness that once swept the globe is still baffling doctors today.
Known for its devastating neurological effects, this mysterious condition has left patients catatonic, psychopathic, and in some extreme cases, violently self-destructive — including reports of individuals gouging out their own eyes.
The Real-Life Horror Behind ‘Awakenings’
The 1990 film Awakenings, starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, was more than just a moving drama.
It was based on the true story of neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks and his work with survivors of the encephalitis lethargica epidemic—a bizarre and deadly disease that struck in the early 20th century.
These survivors were trapped in a frozen, catatonic state for years, even decades.
Dr. Sacks’ use of the drug levodopa temporarily “awakened” some of these patients, giving them brief windows of lucidity before the illness reclaimed them.
A Century-Old Medical Mystery
Encephalitis lethargica, often dubbed “sleeping sickness,” appeared suddenly in the 1910s, infecting over a million people and killing an estimated 500,000 across Europe.
Despite its horrific impact, the disease’s origins and transmission remain unknown.
By the late 1920s, it vanished as mysteriously as it appeared.
From Sleep to Psychosis
The illness began with flu-like symptoms—fatigue, fever, headaches, and muscle aches—but soon escalated.
Victims would enter a coma-like sleep, appearing lifeless while remaining fully conscious, trapped within their bodies.
Dr. Heidi Moawad described the disease’s signature symptoms as a combination of “strange neuropsychiatric behaviors and overwhelming lethargy,” often accompanied by aggressive psychotic episodes.
The Silent Phase
Survivors of the initial infection often experienced a period of deceptive calm, marked by chronic fatigue and emotional detachment.
But as the disease progressed, this phase would give way to severe neurological decline.
Parkinsonism and Living Death
Over time, many patients developed post-encephalitic parkinsonism (PEP)—a condition that left them rigid, immobile, and expressionless.
Though physically frozen, they remained mentally alert, enduring years of silent suffering.
Psychopathic Behaviors and Violence
One of the most chilling aspects of encephalitis lethargica was its impact on young survivors.
As they matured, many exhibited extreme impulsivity and violence.
Historical accounts describe teenagers becoming dangerously aggressive, engaging in cruelty, theft, and self-harm.
One particularly gruesome report detailed a patient who mutilated themselves by removing their own eyes. Some survivors developed uncontrolled sexual aggression, displaying inappropriate behaviors regardless of age or gender.
Criminality and Decline
For those not rendered immobile by parkinsonism, the illness often led to lives marked by crime.
Men turned to theft and violent crimes, while women were often pushed into prostitution.
Despite understanding right from wrong, these individuals lacked the ability to control their actions.
A Vanishing Epidemic with Lingering Fears
By 1927, the outbreak seemed to fade away.
Since then, only around 80 cases have been recorded worldwide. Some experts theorize a connection with the Spanish Flu pandemic, but no definitive cause has ever been established.
A century later, scientists continue to study this mysterious disease, hoping to understand its origins — and prevent a potential resurgence.
This was reported by Newsner.
