Thursday, January 28, 2016

Scientists Discover Genetic, Biologic Cause Of Schizophrenia

That is the title of this article I am reviewing today. "This links many previous findings about the disease and could lead to better treatments. Schizophrenia can present itself with any number of symptoms, from disorganized thinking or motor behavior, to hallucinations or delusions. Together these manifestations often leave a patient unable to function normally and with very few effective treatment options. And though researchers had not been able to figure out the underlying cause of the disease, they've learned a lot in the past few years—genetic mutations probably play a role, as does the immune system and the microbiome. Now scientists have identified a genetic variant in schizophrenic patients that links many of these previous observations, according to a study published today in Nature. If the researchers have in fact discovered the underlying biological cause for schizophrenia as they claim, it could lead to better treatments for the condition." This would be great news for those that will get this disease in the future.  Maybe with this better medicines for now and who knows for the future.
The article goes on to say: "'This study marks a crucial turning point in the fight against mental illness.' Over the past five years, the researchers have collected genetic data from 65,000 people in 30 countries. They knew that mutations in certain genes were linked to schizophrenia, but the researchers wanted to use their huge dataset to find the strongest correlation possible. And they found one—people with highly expressed variations of a gene called complement component 4 (C4) were much more likely to develop schizophrenia. They confirmed the connection between C4 genes and protein production by analyzing 700 samples of human brains. Scientists already knew that the C4 gene generates a protein that the body uses to mark pathogens so that the immune system destroys them. But, importantly, it’s also used during synaptic pruning, a period in adolescence in which the brain eliminates excess connections in order to strengthen the pathways it uses most often. Through experiments in animal models, the researchers found that greater C4 expression leads to more synaptic pruning."Well they have found the gene responsible.  Even though I did not develop full blown schizophrenia until I was twenty seven it was there in my early adult years and caused be to not be able to have a good marriage even though we both loved each other.  Because it was not spoken about back then.
The article ends" "People with highly expressed variations of a gene called complement component 4 (C4) were much more likely to develop schizophrenia. These C4 variants could lead to excessive synaptic pruning during adolescence, the researchers believe, which could make a patient more likely to develop schizophrenia. That might explain why schizophrenia symptoms start in the teens or early 20s, and why adults with schizophrenia have thinner cerebral cortices that contain fewer synapses. C4 also likely affects the immune system and the components of the microbiome in schizophrenic patients, though the exact relationship between C4 expression and immune variations is still unknown. Understanding the biological mechanism means that researchers could develop more effective treatments for schizophrenia, as the ones currently in use are largely designed to manage symptoms but not address the disease directly. If scientists could decrease the synaptic pruning during a patient’s adolescence, they might be able to reduce the severity of schizophrenia, or maybe prevent the disease altogether. "This study marks a crucial turning point in the fight against mental illness,' Bruce Cuthbert, the acting director of the National Institute of Mental Health and who was not involved in the research, said in a press release. "This study changes the game. Thanks to this genetic breakthrough we can finally see the potential for clinical tests, early detection, new treatments, and even prevention.'"The study changes the game.  That is the best news I think we can those of us who have this disease.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Heavy users of mental health care have substantially different patterns of health care use

That is the title of this article I am reviewing. "While a small number of people account for a disproportionately large portion of health services use, heavy users of mental health care have substantially different patterns of health care use than other heavy users of health care, according to new Canadian research. The study is one of the first to look at heavy users of mental health care specifically.While a small number of people account for a disproportionately large portion of health services use, heavy users of mental health care have substantially different patterns of health care use than other heavy users of health care, according to new research by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
The study published in the January issue of Health Affairs is one of the first to look at heavy users of mental health care specifically -- most studies to date have focused on all heavy users.
The study found the average cost of health services used by heavy users of mental health care was more than 30 per cent greater than for other heavy users of health care. Mental health services, including psychiatric hospitalizations and visits to a physician or a psychiatrist, made up the largest portion (about 88 per cent) of the total cost, and services not related to mental health accounted for the remaining 12 per cent."Maybe because they want us to have a primary care doctor and we need more health care because of smoking and other habits we do not  get rid of.
The article goes on to say: "Heavy users of mental health care have complex needs, and it's crucial to address their needs through an integrated, multidisciplinary approach,' says Dr. Claire de Oliveira, Scientist and Health Economist in Social and Epidemiological Research at CAMH, and lead author on the paper. Using administrative health care data collected by ICES, the researchers examined health care use by people defined as heavy users based on the costs of the services they used -- also referred to as high-cost users. The study looked at nearly one million high-cost health care users age 18 years or older in Ontario in 2012. Five per cent -- 51,457 people -- were considered to be high-cost mental health care users, defined as people for whom costs for mental health services were at least 50 per cent of their total health care costs. Understanding which services they use can point to where improvements might occur, both in the delivery of services and in individuals' wellbeing.
Different population characteristics, and high rates of hospitalization
Heavy users of mental health care were younger relative to other high-cost users, and most came from lower-income urban neighbourhoods. People age 18 to 49 made up 58 per cent of heavy users of mental health care and only 24 per cent of other high-cost users. Heavy users of mental health care also tended to be more evenly split among men and women -- 49 per cent were males and 51 per cent were females -- versus other heavy users (42 per cent males and 58 per cent females). Other high-cost users were more likely to have chronic diseases, primarily circulatory and digestive illnesses." Why the chronic diseases?  Does mental Illness cause us to get sicker than the rest of the population."
The article ends with: "About 64 per cent of heavy users of mental health care had at least one psychiatric hospitalization in 2012. More than 90 per cent had at least one visit to a doctor for mental health care and one or more visits for other health care. The researchers note that other studies have shown that people who have psychiatric hospitalizations, particularly people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, have high rates of hospital readmission and low rates of physician visits after they are discharged from a psychiatric hospital stay. 'Our research shows that heavy users of mental health care have substantially different patterns of health care use than other high-costs health care users, representing a different patient population,' says Dr. de Oliveira. 'Their needs must be considered separately when looking to improve the quality of care for heavy users of health care in general.'
Opportunity for early prevention
As a next step, the researchers are developing a predictive model to identify mental health care users at highest risk of future hospitalization. 'If we can identify individuals at risk before they become high-cost users of mental health care, this may present an opportunity to provide earlier preventive health care and social services, such as high-support housing units,' says Dr. de Oliveira." I for one do not know why people do not take their medication and avoid the emergency rooms.  I for one would have to be dying before I would ever use the emergency room it cost to much. If people would take care of themselves there would never have to use an emergency room. 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

There is always room for Hope

That is the title of this blog I am writing about sometimes life can throw you a curve and bring you to your knees. I am going through something myself right now with my left lung.  It can make me have lung infections and walking pneumonia.  It makes doing things hard that used to me easy to me. I think the hardest thing is not knowing what I have because the doctor's will tell me it is find than there is the but.  It turns out the it goes in the opposite direction than what they said. Like this week on Monday again he gave me it will go well but.  Until we know exactly  have it in our hands we do not know.  This waiting and I still have to wait a month before I really know.  That is the hardest part when do I get to be normal again?  I have hope and am optimistic that it will turn out right and I can go back to normal.
Some people with our disease have it worse when a problem occurs be it a death or something else. I read about a person who a loved one died and they had a job and apartment.  They were doing well for themselves.  Than that loved on died and they relapsed and lost the apartment.  The were lucky to be able to put the job on hold.  They had to start living in a group home again. I have lived in a group home and that would be the worse thing that could ever happen again.  The good news is his AA worked for him and he did not relapse. He had friend that stuck with him and now he is getting back and taking the group home in stride.
He says I do not need to cook anymore so I save money.  He started back to work and is taking things one day at a time. He still thinks about the person who dies but is thinking more positive now.  That is why we always need hope that things will return to normal or things will be better than before. I am sure when I am through with my struggles that I can look back and say life is hard but it gets better.