John Ratey and Catherine Johnson

John Ratey and Catherine Johnson assert in the following viewpoint that many people experience “normal craziness” that manifests itself as compulsive or eccentric behavior. Ratey and Johnson contend that “normal craziness” is actually mild versions of mental illness, and therefore the extent of mental illness is underdiagnosed. The authors maintain that “normal craziness” is due to biological disturbances in the brain; therefore, Ratey and Johnson argue, it can be treated once it is diagnosed. Ratey is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and executive director of research at Medfield State Hospital in Massachusetts. Johnson is a trustee of the National Alliance for Autism Research. They are coauthors of Shadow Syndromes.

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1. According to the authors...