In the Journal of Narrative Pathology (Vol. 2, 2004), Top 5 New Diseases: Media Induced Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (MIPTSD), "for relatively rare individuals, an obsessive compulsion to believe, prove or re-tell a conspiracy theory may indicate one or more of several well-understood psychological conditions, and other hypothetical ones: paranoia, denial, schizophrenia, and mean world syndrome."

Numerous factors have been linked to the development of mental disorders. In many cases there is no single accepted or consistent cause. A common view is that disorders often result from genetic vulnerabilities combining with environmental stressors. An eclectic or pluralistic mix of models may be used to explain particular disorders. The primary paradigm of contemporary mainstream Western psychiatry is said to be the biopsychosocial model - incorporating biological, psychological and social factors - although this may not be applied in practice. Evolutionary psychology may be used as an overall explanatory theory and has gone a long way in explaining the preponderance of insane people in inbred aristocratic English families.

Genetic studies have indicated that genes often play an important role in the development of mental disorders, via developmental pathways interacting with environmental factors. The reliable identification of connections between specific genes and specific categories of disorder has proven more difficult - the study into conspiratorial theory is an ongoing one.

Abnormal functioning of neurotransmitter systems has been implicated, including serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and glutamate systems. Differences have also been found in the size or activity of certain brain regions in some cases. Psychological mechanisms have also been implicated, such as cognitive and emotional processes, personality, temperament and coping style.

Social influences have been found to be important, including abuse, bullying and other negative or stressful life experiences. The specific risks and pathways to particular disorders are less clear, however. Aspects of the wider community have also been implicated, including employment problems, socioeconomic inequality, lack of social cohesion, problems linked to migration, and features of particular societies and cultures.

A major option for many mental disorders is psychiatric medication. There are several main groups. Antidepressants are used for the treatment of clinical depression as well as often for anxiety and other disorders. Anxiolytics are used for anxiety disorders and related problems such as insomnia. Mood stabilizers are used primarily in bipolar disorder, mainly targeting mania rather than depression. Antipsychotics are used for psychotic disorders, notably for positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Stimulants are commonly used, notably for ADHD. Despite the different conventional names of the drug groups, there can be considerable overlap in the kinds of disorders for which they are actually indicated. Sometimes, when patients are completely wacko, they're prescribed the whole lot.

The great challenge of the twenty first century so far for drugs companies and their laboratories - apart from drugs trials on Islamists - has been seeking a psychiatric medication for the sharp rise since 911 in the number of so-called Truthers - those who can't help but delude themselves with the conspiracy theory that the mainstream account of the events of 911 is false and that the perceived cover-up and anomalies in the official account can better be explained by the theory that a "rogue network," including individuals in the US government ,planned, carried out, and covered up the 911 attack or deliberately allowed the attacks to take place. There are a wide range of imagined theories about how and why the attacks were carried out, including belief that US air defenses (NORAD) were deliberately rendered ineffective, that the two World Trade Center Towers and WTC 7 were demolished in a controlled fashion, and that the motives for the attacks were to justify overseas wars and to increase domestic control.

The big problem for the drugs companies is not that they can't invent Truther drugs treatment courses, but that they are running up against political figures that suffer from the Truther illness. Alas, it seems that the personification of mental illness - the Truther - shall be in attendance at counter terror lectures for a while to come.

The world's leading drugs companies daren't be seen publicly classifying such influential figures as mentally ill by offering them treatment - this might ruin their careers and block channels for delivery. After all, there are alleged to be some important names afflicted by the unfortunate Truther condition. These include Senatore Francesco Cossiga, former Prime Minister and President of the Italian Republic, the Honourable Paul Hellyer, former Canadian Minister of National Defence, Paul Lannoye, Member of the European Union Parliament, Ray McGovern, former Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush (and founder of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity), Cynthia McKinney, former Democratic Congresswoman from Georgia,  Michael Meacher, former British Minister and Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1970, Morgan Reynolds, chief economist for the US Department of Labor from 2001-2002, Paul Craig Roberts, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury and former associate editor of the Wall Street Journal, and Andreas von Bülow, former German Defense Minister. Perhaps even more of a problem for the drugs companies is that two highly influential, intellectual heavyweights from the US are alleged to be Truthers themselves: none other than Charlie Sheen and Rosie O'Donnell.

But it's not all gloom and doom, as scientists battle this new mental illness. A drugs company insider says that the industry thinks it has found the solution: to tempt Truthers into becoming members of a lesser known British political party. And when Truthers are least suspecting it - at rallies and soirees for this party - slipping the new drugs into members' tea:

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party (OMRLP) is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by the late musician and politician David Sutch, also known as Screaming Lord Sutch. (Alas Screaming Lord Sutch, a manic depressive, committed suicide on June 16, 1999). Its psychological state bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Truthers.

The Monster Raving Loony Party's manifesto currently includes some of the following policies: making it illegal for super heroes to use their powers for evil, legislating so that all socks are sold in packs of three (as a precaution against losing one), proposing that all pavements are heated so it is possible to walk bare foot in the winter, providing bright people with dimmer switches, teaching children "to reed, rite, and appreciate rock" and proposing dedicated pogo stick lanes on routes to centres of work.

The similarities between Truther policies to the war on terror and Loony policies are said to be so remarkable that "the Truthers are definitely going to fall for it". For while Truthers side with the delusional Islamists on issues like 911 and the Iraq war, so they are likely to agree completely with Monster Raving Loony policies on national defence:

The Loonies suggest "Separate Passports for Terrorists" whereby terrorists should be required (by virtue of law) to apply for separate passports in which they give their full contact details, number of explosives, and time (as well as location) of any plot. They propose, for security reasons, to declare the Channel Tunnel a no fly zone, to issue all soldiers serving abroad with long ranged laser-guided water pistols, to replace all Guard Dogs with Guard Tortoises and, last but not least, to ban all terrorists from having beards as they look scary.

It is hoped that drugs companies, in tandem with governmental plans for mass mental health screening, will one day see Truthers being able to find rewarding roles in society, whereby they can contribute as individuals in their communities, rather than existing in their current state, alongside extreme Islamists, as the great burden that they are on us all.

Lance Boyle is a bacteriologist, specialising in germ extraction.