Simple DNA Test... simple?

     Recently, I met with my psychiatrist and requested a DNA test 
available to help with my treatment. So, sure enough, I swabbed
the inside of my cheeks myself.

    Later into the week, I looked up the test (not the results) on the
internet and saw that it is met with controversy. Some critics are
hopeful, where others are pessimistic.

    It is said to have little correlation towards specifics in the mental
health areas. But, for me (a patient since 1990), I remain anxious and
skeptical about the results of my test. To finally have a scientific way
of choosing certain medicines is a GOD SEND.

    Imagine, just recently- before the GINA ACT- doctors and nurses
in the mental health field could only use observation as the way and
means for diagnosing someone with a mental illness and the subsequent
"symptoms" directly observed, seen, experienced in that particular
patient's file- where these observations then determined a patient's
"meds" (medicines).

    At this time, enzymes help determine a patient's reactions to only 
forty differing medicines at this time. But, it is a start! 
How far we have come in the psychiatric field and it feels
liberating. Finally, science is slowly catching up. It feels great to 
be a part of it's upcoming scientific breakthroughs.  

    So many of my peers and myself have gone through medicinal
hell. I am speaking of side-effects that accompany most, if not all,
psychiatric medicines. And think of our poor doctors. Doing their
best to prescribe the correct medicines with only the DSM-IV
guidelines and ICD-9CM international guidelines at their disposal.

    I am sorry to those who are so skeptical that they are against
the testing and recommend the antiquated way of diagnosing and
then the subsequent dosing with only observational and patient
input as their guidelines.

    So many have dedicated their professional and personal lives
to finding breakthroughs, such as this beginner of a test, this DNA
test, that allows doctors and nurses (in a non-invasive way) a more
precise and explainable diagnostic result, in the treatment of mental illness.

    Imagine this: you have a patient. They don't know the symptoms.
They don't know the illness. Yet, in order for you to help treat the
patient you are also required to educate the patient, AND, sometimes
the patient is resistant to teaching due to denial.

    Without a patient learning about mental health, about 70% of a
psychiatrist's decisions is guesswork.

    Along comes a DNA test. A scientific example of enzyme reactions
clinically studied; not reactions physically studied. A test that keeps
the mental health patient from suffering adverse effects that sometimes
come with certain medicines that up until now doctors and nurses were
blind to until the client was dosed and treated. Experienced.

    Wow. And there are doctors against this?

"mapping the human connectome" using 'MRI' technology

 www.psychcentral.com

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/07/24/genetic-testing-for-mental-disorders-avoid-23andme-navigenics-others-for-now/


http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/looking-at-my-genes-what-can-they-tell-me/index.shtml

There is LIFE after Diagnoses

  

     I would like to thank my loyal readers. About a year ago, when I
found my blog going international, I had a boost in confidence that 

what I put out here is actually helping and that, even though slow,

my readership is increasing.  

     I thought I would give a little follow-up and help give some confidence
to my readers. 

     I was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder a month after I turned

21. I saw all my career and family dreams disappear before an

antiquated form of treatment and even older form of standard DSM-IV

conclusive psychiatry guidelines. Back then, diagnoses were still an

observation and guessing game.

    Now that we are coming into a more understanding and

friendlier DSM5 and ICD-10CM guidelines with accepted
treatments, changing norms and society standards- I hope 

the stigma campaign is working to help stop prejudice 

and decrease suicide numbers that plague
the mentally ill.

    I am 45 now, have two children in college, an orphaned father

and a baby brother who still argues with me and who's 
loving family still welcomed me after 10 years between visits. 

Having lost some family, I am still coming to terms with and
working in therapy to learn how to positively remember memories
(what is normal, what is typical, and what I still need to work through).
I have many cousins, many younger than me, and I try to give 

them courage just in case they find themselves also 

in the mental health system. In other words, I still

need to set a good example.
 
     In the meantime remember what a difference a friend makes
( even though that link has expired, it is still a good motto ) 

you might be able to save your friend's life. 

  Thank you again to all my readers.            

  Help a friend, help yourself, help someone.                                                                

  click here for support: talk to someone now:

  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

                                                                      

archive what a difference a friend makes

 the ratios and statistics:

  2007 data suicidal rates

  2009 data suicidal rates

  2010 data suicidal rates