RAMIREZ BERMUDEZ, JESUS

I work as a staff neuropsychiatrist at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico. I am involved in research, teaching, and clinical practice. I am interested in exploring the overlap between neurology and psychiatry, as well as the historical and philosophical foundations of both disciplines.

My research focuses on studying the cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of neurological diseases, with a particular emphasis on autoimmune psychosis, and more broadly, the field of immunopsychiatry. I study delirium, catatonia, cognitive disturbances and the many faces of psychosis. I am particularly interested in clinical imaging and studying clinical phenotypes that fall beyond the scope of DSM approaches. This includes investigating conditions like Cotard and Capgras delusions, the Anton and Klüver-Bucy syndromes, Charles Bonnet hallucinations, among others.

I was honored with a Best Paper Award from the International Neuropsychiatric Association in 2006. This award was related to my work on the neuropsychiatric features of encephalitis. More recently, my research has focused on anti-NMDAR encephalitis. In 2011, I received a Young Researcher Award from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. This award recognized my Ph.D. thesis, which explored the use of brain imaging (DTI, TBSS) in patients with late-onset affective disorders. More recently I have been invited as lecturer by the Harvard Medical School, the Jean Nicod Institute (Paris) and the British Neuropsychiatric Association.

I am also a writer with a keen interest in the connections between science, clinical narratives, literary essays, and creative writing. I have written a novel (Paramnesia) inspired by my clinical experiences, as well as two books dedicated to clinical narrative (Breve Diccionario Clínico del Alma and Un diccionario sin palabras). Furthermore, I have authored a science book for general audience (Depresión: la noche más oscura) and a literary essay on creativity and psychopathology (La melancolía creativa). I have been honored with the National Award on Literary Essay from the Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico.