WHEN QUARTAN FEVER RELIEVED DEPRESSION: THE INCEPTION OF PYRETOTHERAPY IN THE GRECO-ROMAN ANTIQUITY

The aim: This paper explores the documentation of the effect of quartan fever on, the ancient Greek equivalent of conditions falling nowadays under the spectrum of depression, in Greco-Roman medical sources.

Materials and methods: The authors searched original medical texts written in Greek by physicians who lived and practiced Medicine in the broader Mediterranean region from the 5th century BC to the 7th century AD for records related to quartan fever and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Conclusions: Quartan fever was used as a treatment for neuropsychiatric conditions until the middle of the 20th century. Although malaria can have severe neuropsychiatric sequelae, the neuroimmunological underpinnings of the effect of fever and heat on depression warrant further investigation.