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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More Illusion Fun

Can you find the man in the coffee beans? This illusion says that it works your right brain, but it's been unproven . It's fun to try to spot him nonetheless.

Oh, and by the way, it took me a long time to find him.

But once you find him, you can't miss him!!


Thanks Mysti

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Chemical Signature of Bipolar Disorder

Genetic research continues to explain mental illness.
Recent news of findings from the University of Cambridge in the UK and the National Institutes of Mental Health in the US found that people with Bipolar Disorder have a distinct chemical signature in their brain.

For those individuals who experience Bipolar Disorder, the origin appears to be in the balance of "excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters", which malfunction in sending signals to the brain. The study also explains why certain medications like Lithium and Depakote work by restoring the balance of these neurotransmitters.

The article is here in the journal of Molecular Psychiatry .

I think in time, mental illness will be renamed something like "Neurobiological Illness".

What do you think?

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The Curse of Ambivalence

Of all the things I've seen in my work, I'd have to say that Ambivalence - the state in which one feels contradictory emotions for a person or a situation - is a rough road. The coexistence of both positive and negative feelings you have toward a person, like love and hate, will draw you in and then push you away. Similarly, the simultaneous approach-avoidance you have with making a decision keeps you in the same holding pattern.

As a result, this rigid cycling pattern never moves you forward. You are constantly moving from one side of the fence to the other. Or you park yourself entirely on the fence.

Ambivalent thinking has been linked to genetic origins akin to obsessive compulsive tendencies, to psychological defensive styles like "splitting" or personality disorders, and underdeveloped cognitive-behavioral styles of problem solving. So if you are ambivalent, there are things you can do to break the holding pattern. Professional help can get you going in the right direction.

If you are involved with someone who is chronically ambivalent, suggest therapy to him or her... and keep an eye on the grains of sand in the hourglass. Sometimes you may have to unhinge from an ambivalent person if the connection is an unhealthy one for you.

PS: Thanks to all for the "E" award.

I nominate all my those on my blogroll as they are totally excellent bloggers!

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