I keep a folder for interesting articles and tidbits that my readers might find fun to read and instructive. It has been growing fat!
Usually, I post a selection of these every couple of weeks or so, but have neglected to do so for quite some time. Though today’s post will not even begin to clear out the folder, at least it’s a good start!
Today’s topics cover a broad range of topics, as shown by the subject list:
- Therapy by Telephone
- Battle of the genes determine mental illnesses?
- Seven habits that could transform your life
- Is there a way to get rid of unwanted memories?
- Why we overeat when we’re stressed
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Genetics,
Memory,
Overeating,
Research,
Stress,
Therapy
by Mike Nichols on September 22, 2008 · 0 comments
The recent decoding of the human genome has lead to advances in determining genetic risk profiles for particular illnesses. The best known and scientifically credible discovery is the link between the BRCA genes and the development of breast cancer.
Now there are three companies offering genetic tests to determine one’s vulnerability to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression. Tests for Anxiety Disorders cannot be far behind.
The companies marketing these tests obviously believe that they are reliable and accurate. But the scientific community has been almost universally opposed to the tests.
Are there reliable genetic tests for mental illnesses given the current knowledge of the human genome? Can there ever be reliable tests? And what about the ethical questions genetic tests raise? All these issues and more are discussed in this post.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety Disorder,
Gene,
Genetics
by Mike Nichols on September 2, 2008 · 1 comment
The evidence keeps building for physical causes for Anxiety Disorders.
The Met158 gene variation has been found to cause an exaggerated “startle” response among people prone to develop Anxiety Disorders.
Inborn differences may help explain why trauma gives some people bad memories and others the nightmare of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Scientists in Germany and the United States report evidence in a new study linking genes to Anxious behavior. The findings appear in the August issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, published by the American Psychological Association.
Although a great deal more research is needed, Christian Montag, co-author of the research, says that if this line of research bears fruit, one day
it might be possible to prescribe the right dose of the right drug, relative to genetic makeup, to treat anxiety disorders.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety Disorder,
Genetics,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Research
