What is the effect of Cannibalism on the human body?
In regards to effects not caused by a specific disease (e.g. Creutzfeldt-Jakob), the degree to which someone suffers from psychological or physical damage probably depends on the situation. Eating human flesh is a fundamental taboo in modern human society, and so it seldom occurs except in extreme survival situations. In those situations, guilt and shame could amplify the effects of post-traumatic stress. PTSD can cause both psychological damage and physical changes in the body. There is some discussion of the potential impact of cannibalism on survivors of disaster situations in the book “The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride” by Daniel James Brown.
