Dearest Liz:

Just when you think bad jeans is just another negative popular fashion statement. I get another genetic slap across the face {laughing}.I guess it's nice to get the information, and be informed on the latest research. But I would much rather hear they can actually do something about it. I signed up for the monkey brain transplant list, but now the monkeys are on strike and PETA has got involved over abuse of animal’s rights. Just my luck when a glimmer of hope comes along, it gets dashed by more insane political correctness {that was a definite laugh and snort}. This reminds me of the Big Bang theory! It all sounds nice and rational, but I somehow feel cheated and left out that I missed the firework display {smirk}. Anywise making this post short and sweet, this is so unlike me. I Hope the increased selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors of your choosing, has allowed the serotonin levels to rise and create balance in your Porche powered type brain. Which is just another corny way of saying that I hope you’re feeling better.

Yours truly
Stan

So in the future we'll be able to genetically test individuals to prevent schizophrenia. What exactly does this mean? Forcibly medicating everyone that tests a certain way? More monitoring of these people? Clearly less civil rights, maybe sterilization, health insurance and job discrimination. Scary stuff indeed. Think of all of the creative people who will be silenced before they ever have a chance to speak, all that society will lose.

Please tell me it wasn't a Subway Meatball Sub. For the love of god..

There is something fundamentally wrong to promote the notion that it's mainly in the genes especially when it does so little to avail one of the current treatment that might make a difference outside of meds alone. What we too often end up with is a segment of the population that is increasing viewed as intrinsically broken and further marginalized. Already, we are told that our neurotransmitters just aren't doing the voodoo they should do. I can't even tell you the number of mental health consumers who have told me something akin to, "There isn't enough ______ (fill in the bank with your favorite neurotransmitter) in my brain." I fully expect to hear mental health consumers say in the not too distant future, "I have abnormal genes which means I have an ______ (fill in a mental illness) brain." (Of course, both statements invite the question, "How do you know?')

What one is genotypically is not necessarily reflected phenotypically. People operate in an environment much more complex then Mendel's pea plants. I swear I have the genes of a power forward but for the life of me I can't play a decent game of hoops. Perhaps, it's that nature versus nurture thing. Genes are not always reality; sometimes they are merely a potential reality.

Dearest Liz:

No new article or video for a while? I'm hoping this is because you’re feeling great, out having lots of fun, making tons of cash working, and eating lots of good ice cream. But I must tell you with heart felt honesty, I'm just starting to get a wee bit concerned, so pop in and post something to relieve my anxiety level dang it K.

Yours truly
Stan

The purported genetic link to schizophrenia cited in that article is at most a minor factor. No more than 20% of people classified as having schizophrenia were found to have those "tiny anomalies" indicating a genetic link (only 15 percent of the "adult onset patients"), and five percent of the normal group had those same anomalies. So most people called schizophrenic don't have that genetic predisposition, and even some who do are considered to be normal.

It might indicate that some people are less able to stand up to the terrible things that sometimes happen in life than are most others, and if any of those terrible things happen to them they may be more likely to show signs of it. It doesn't seem to have much predictive value, though, since over 4/5 of people with the schizophrenic label didn't have the genetic anomalies, and a few who did apparently never showed any signs of it. It seems like the nurture thing may be a bigger factor than the nature thing. That's not surprising, considering the horrendous experiences and environments people sometimes have to cope with.

It might also be useful to look into the backgrounds of the psychiatrists involved, to see if that might have an effect on how likely they are to give certain kinds of diagnoses. On a vaguely related note, here's a slightly different kind of link:

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i32926

I miss you and hope that you're on a well-deserved and relaxing vacation in some tropical paradise. If not, well, health and wellness always need to be the top priority. Keep the faith, Liz. ~~Nancy