9. Squeaky Fans

“A tense environment and a good villain” are the perfect ingredients for mass hysteria, according to psychologist and epidemiologist Professor Simon Wessley. It’s a phrase so toxic, it was removed from the diagnostic manual in the late 1960s. But as neurologist and mystery illness expert Suzanne O’Sullivan explains, “We are all vulnerable. We just need to meet the right circumstance.”

In the penultimate episode of Havana Helmet Club, Jennifer Forde and Sam Bungey investigate high-profile cases of mass hysteria – now known as mass psychogenic illness or conversion disorder - for clues about Havana Syndrome. Could it be the solution to the puzzle, or a way for the CIA to dig themselves out of a hole?

Credits

Havana Helmet Club is written and presented by Jennifer Forde and Sam Bungey

Editor: Guy Crossman

Story editing: Mike Ollove Producer: Larry Ryan

Sound designer: Merijn Royaards

Additional mixing: Ger McDonnell

Theme music: Tom Pintens, with additional music composed by Merijn Royaards

Fact checking: Stanley Masters.

Additional reporting: Isobel Sutton, Pascale Hardey Stewart and Stanley Masters

Archive producers: Miriam Walsh and Helen Carr

Production executive: Kirstin Drybrugh

Editorial advisor: Jesse Baker

Commissioner: Dylan Haskins

Assistant commissioners: Sarah Green and Natasha Johansson

Havana Helmet Club is a Yarn production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.