‘Brain fag’: a syndrome associated with ‘overstudy’ and mental exhaustion in 19th century Britain

Abstract

The relationship between mental exhaustion and somatic sensations has been described across cultures for millennia, including the contextual relationship with studying and learning. In 19th century Britain, concern regarding the impact of ‘excessive’ study (‘overstudy’) and the mental impact on ‘brainworkers’ led to the coining of the term ‘Brain Fag’ in 1850. Anxiety became heightened following the promulgation of the Education Acts from 1870 with compulsory child education. This was felt to be a public health crisis with social class distinctions. Brain fag anxiety subsequently transmitted across the British colonies while declining in Britain. Over a century later, this linguistic and colonial residue was observed in British West Africa where it was described as a culture bound syndrome.