Most of Raskolnikov's actions and thoughts are attributed to his feeling of guilt about the cold blooded murder he has committed. Mood swings, anxiety and apathy, severe depression, social changes, all these are attributed to guilt. What if it was not Raskolnikov's guilt that was causing these changes in him, what if it was due to something else? All of the aforementioned mental states are symptoms of food depravation experienced by subjects in an experiment held by Dr. David Garner, to study the effects of semi-starvation on the human body and the mind.

Throughout the novel Raskolnikov doesn't eat very much, and when he does it is only scant amounts of food. This lack of nutrients would effect the body of any individual, especially one affected by sickness as Raskolnikov is. Raskolnikov is always described as tall and thin, proof of his poor nutrition. His maid, also can...