At-Home DNA Test For Bipolar Disorder

Psynomics , the first company to offer diagnostic testing for mental illness, is causing a stir in the health field. They offer two genetic tests to diagnose Bipolar Disorder on its website, along with descriptions, references and instructions for individuals and doctors.

Once ordered, a "spit kit" arrives at one's home or doctor's office. From there, the procedure is simple. Spit, seal and send. Psynomics will analyze the DNA and forward test results and a report. For more on the process, read here .

There are some limitations, specifically that the genetic test is valid only if you experience the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and are Caucasian with Northern European ancestry.

Some health experts worry that such genetic tests are built on thin data and may be preying on a person's deepest anxieties. While others feel it is an exciting step into a new world. A world where technology and genetic helps to make diagnosis easier.

I'm excited by the possibilities.

How about you?

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Phobot: The Phobic Robot

Phobot - a robot created by students from the University of Amsterdam - won top honors at an international conference on Human-Robot Interaction .

Phobot was created to help children deal with phobias. It is programmed to be specifically frightened of other robots. It displays fear, anxiety and avoidance when it is initially confronted by another robot. But as the Phobot moves through a psychological-behavioral program of being exposed to little robots to bigger and bigger ones, it overcomes its fears.

So clever.

For more on this, read here

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Psychoanalysis in HBO Series "In Treatment"

Home Box Office has been running an interesting series called In Treatment

In my opinion, it's a wonderful snapshot of modern psychoanalysis.

Irish actor, Gabriel Byrne , plays psychoanalyst Dr. Paul Weston. The series revolves around the sessions of five of his patients and his personal life. Each patient is seen a different day of the week - and the show is cleverly aired on the "day" of their sessions.

As a viewer, you get to experience the nuances of modern psychoanalysis. The unconscious, transference, counter-transference and interpretations, just to name a few. I hope this series opens the door to many who are curious about this form of psychotherapy. It's a really well-done gem.

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Sign Language And Reading

You have to see it to believe it.

This little 17 month old girl can read.

Really, she can. Take a look-see.

Elizabeth was taught Sign Language by her parents - both of whom are Speech Pathologists. There is a lot of research touting the benefits of hearing individuals learning Sign Language. In fact, I did my doctoral dissertation on the benefits of Sign Language.

Not only would there be gains in language and reading acquisition for hearing children, but also spatial and visual abilities would be greater developed.

And learning Sign Language could help bridge the hearing and Deaf worlds together.

Wouldn't that be something?

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