Blood test can predict risk of suicide

The American Journal of Psychology has published research which links the gene SKA2 - which controls the stress hormone cortisol - to increased risk of suicide. 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10997862/Blood-test-can-predict-risk-of-suicide.html

 

Interestingly, they predict that identifying this gene in people could allow doctors or psychologists to place patients on ‘suicide watch’ and restrict their access to drugs or equipment which they could use to end their own life.

 

Dr Kaminsky said it could also help doctors know whether to give medications which are linked to suicidal thoughts.

 

Could this be a game changer for antidepressant/benzodiazepine prescribing?

 

Zizi

 

I don't know about trusting docs to such a high degree.

 

An awful lot of doctors commit suicide:

 

http://www.newhealthguide.org/Highest-Suicide-Rate-By-Profession.html

 

 

 

Hi Zizi

 

If this blood test is as accurate as is said in the article it could be a useful tool in assessing patients' mental state.  I presume it would not be a catch all test.  I would be surprised if all suicidal people could be detected this way but would need to know more about the research.

 

It is a development worth knowing about and following.

 

Thanks

 

LF

 

 

Interesting, thanks for posting Zizi.

Call me a party pooper, but I just don't buy this.  Was the study funded by Big Pharma, perhaps?

We're talking the human brain, mind, psyche, environment, situations, etc, etc, it's way too complicated for a "simple blood test".

Just sayin' 

Call me a party pooper, but I just don't buy this.  Was the study funded by Big Pharma, perhaps?

We're talking the human brain, mind, psyche, environment, situations, etc, etc, it's way too complicated for a "simple blood test".

Just sayin' 

 

I'll join you.

Call me a party pooper, but I just don't buy this.  Was the study funded by Big Pharma, perhaps?

We're talking the human brain, mind, psyche, environment, situations, etc, etc, it's way too complicated for a "simple blood test".

Just sayin' 

 

I'll join you.

 

Me too, I'm afraid.  Partially for the reason I posted and partially for what abcd says there about

pharma companies.   

Interesting, POGO, thank you.  How recent is that study?

 

Hi Lookingforward

 

I have now found the extract study  http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=1892819&resultClick=1

 

From what I have gleaned the paper quotes 90% accuracy based on 22 cases.  I know some people will find that a small study but it's a start.

 

I also have my doubts that all suicidal people could be detected.

 

 

You're welcome, Claudia. 

 

 

Hi abc

 

Good point.  I honestly don't know if Big Pharma funded part or all of it but it can't be ruled out. 

 

The blood test targets a specific mutant gene which controls the stress hormone cortisol from getting too high.  They say they have evidence that those who have this mutant gene are prone to higher than normal cortisol levels and, therefore, a tendency to commit suicide.

 

Zizi 

Gosh there are many studies bearing that out about healthcare specialists/docs

with high rates of drug addiction and suicide, over decades on end.

 

It's sad, of course.  All suicides are sad and ironic.  Nobody should think such things let alone

carry it out.  It is murder and it also flies in the face of why we were created in the first place.

 

This is very interesting, Zizi. I only wonder what other drugs doctors would use on patients who are susceptible to suicide using the SKA2 method. They would have to be very careful about this because drugs affect so many of us differently. I think it is positive that there's scientific proof because doctors don't seem to understand unless it's something they can see it with their own eyes.

Thanks for posting the link, Zizi.

 

LF

All suicides are sad and ironic.  Nobody should think such things let alone

carry it out.  It is murder and it also flies in the face of why we were created in the first place.

 

Hello POGO

 

I hope you have never experienced the sort of depression that leads to suicidal ideas and attempts. I hope you never do. I certainly have and it is a place I would never wish to go to again. It is even more ironic that the depression I endured for many years was caused by taking nitrazepam for myoclonic epilepsy. I am sure God understands this and does not wish to judge me.

 

LF

 

LF

I found the article very misleading. Yes, they found a gene that is related to cortisol. What is not proven is the fact that increased cortisol is a cause of suicide. It may be true that they found increased cortisol in suicidal persons, but is just an association that does not prove causality.

A person that wants to die is going through a lot of stress, mainly due to the reasons for the desire to die. Stress increases cortisol. Increased cortisol is our natural coping mechanism with stress.

 

I find in fact very dangerous the genetic profiling when the current science is in its infancy with regards to understand the human genome. What was done up to now is just a mapping. Yes we know we have n number of genes and give them names. But it is almost only that. The sensations news about that and that gene are for now done in isolation from the actions of the other genes we have no clue what they are doing.

 

And in the case here we are considering a gene in isolation and associating it to an act (suicide)  for which there is no proven biological cause.

I found the article very misleading. Yes, they found a gene that is related to cortisol. What is not proven is the fact that increased cortisol is a cause of suicide. It may be true that they found increased cortisol in suicidal persons, but is just an association that does not prove causality.

A person that wants to die is going through a lot of stress, mainly due to the reasons for the desire to die. Stress increases cortisol. Increased cortisol is our natural coping mechanism with stress.

 

I find in fact very dangerous the genetic profiling when the current science is in its infancy with regards to understand the human genome. What was done up to now is just a mapping. Yes we know we have n number of genes and give them names. But it is almost only that. The sensations news about that and that gene are for now done in isolation from the actions of the other genes we have no clue what they are doing.

 

And in the case here we are considering a gene in isolation and associating it to an act (suicide)  for which there is no proven biological cause.

 

Agreed.  How such frivolous "studies" even get published is beyond me. 

But still, everyone jumps on the bandwagon and lo and behold we'll soon have doctors putting people on ADs as a suicide precaution, or, Heaven forbid, we'll be seeing a "revolutionary" suicide vaccine!    This is very troubling.

Eugenics, perhaps?

I'm studying Freud, Lacan, Jung and other psychologist...

 

i just can't believe that science can be THAT advanced , from a simple blood sampler to be able to detect what is hidden within deep psyche and unconscious......

 

:idiot:

I'm studying Freud, Lacan, Jung and other psychologist...

 

i just can't believe that science can be THAT advanced , from a simple blood sampler to be able to detect what is hidden within deep psyche and unconscious......

 

:idiot:

 

 

Coming to a theater near you!!! 

 

I just posted this on another thread.  I think you'll find this very interesting, Eva.

 

"Psychiatrist and author, Allen J. Frances, believes that mental illnesses are being over-diagnosed. In his lecture, Diagnostic Inflation: Does Everyone Have a Mental Illness?, Dr. Frances outlines why he thinks the DSM-V will lead to millions of people being mislabeled with mental disorders. His lecture was part of Mental Health Matters, an initiative of TVO in association with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health."

 

This guy was on the Chair of DSM-IV.  I must admit I'm wondering about his MO for speaking up now ...    You'll hear in his speech, he says he got started on this crusade when they were coming up with preventative psychiatric treatment, e.g. "prevent psychosis"!  Have you ever heard such BS?!!!  If you ask me, this is sheer white collar crime! 

 

I'm studying Freud, Lacan, Jung and other psychologist...

 

i just can't believe that science can be THAT advanced , from a simple blood sampler to be able to detect what is hidden within deep psyche and unconscious......

 

:idiot:

 

 

 

thank you,,,I'm on youtube starting to watch it.....

 

they would like to put all people on this garbage for their bogus "prevention"......

 

but this Criminal world wide scam won't last for long,,,,

 

Coming to a theater near you!!! 

 

I just posted this on another thread.  I think you'll find this very interesting, Eva.

 

"Psychiatrist and author, Allen J. Frances, believes that mental illnesses are being over-diagnosed. In his lecture, Diagnostic Inflation: Does Everyone Have a Mental Illness?, Dr. Frances outlines why he thinks the DSM-V will lead to millions of people being mislabeled with mental disorders. His lecture was part of Mental Health Matters, an initiative of TVO in association with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health."

 

This guy was on the Chair of DSM-IV.  I must admit I'm wondering about his MO for speaking up now ...    You'll hear in his speech, he says he got started on this crusade when they were coming up with preventative psychiatric treatment, e.g. "prevent psychosis"!  Have you ever heard such BS?!!!  If you ask me, this is sheer white collar crime! 

 

Such an interesting discussion! There are so many questions that this topic brings up for me. When it comes to studies, I'm always wondering about sample size, how the study was conducted, how the conclusions were determined, etc., etc. My university statistics course taught me to be very skeptical when it comes to studies, and I think it's important to see the actual study itself. I can't access the link, so I can't weigh in on this one.

 

When it comes to the media, bear in mind that articles about healthcare and health issues create lots of interest. Again, skepticism is important. I think that the ideas and opinions of those who have responded here on on this post show how we can think critically and challenge ideas. The Telegraph article barely skims the surface. For example, do all people who have this gene commit suicide? If not, what other factors are involved? Has the test been repeated in different populations (nationalities, ages, sexes, etc.) and have the same results been found? Is the SKA2 level static or does it change? What changes it?

 

The line in the article referring to medications is really vague. Prozac has been linked to suicides in youth and children, so would you NOT give them the medication or are antidepressants considered helpful in prevention of suicide? What role would counselling or other forms of support or any other intervention play? They talked about placing people on "suicide watch" or restricting their access to things. Would that continue indefinitely for someone with this gene?

 

Like others here, I think that suicide and its prevention is a complex issue. I'm going to keep an open mind on this one, but I'd like more of my questions to be answered.

 

Thanks so much for the stimulating discussion! You people are smart and interesting, and I think you can be sure that the benzos haven't dulled your powers of critical thinking! Good work! Keep it up!

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2014/08/study-examines-factors-that-boost-suicide-risk-for-doctors/

 

I have an appointment with this p/doc next month. He seems to 'get it' re: benzos

Trying to legitimize psychiatry.  And for marketing purposes, of course...

 

What a crock; and the public is so gullible!

Does anyone really know the history of psychiatry?  It's sordid. 

 

Reducing the human psych down to a bunch of molecules/genes-relentlessly looking for that 'magic bullet'...

 

putting the soul under a microscope!

Does anyone really know the history of psychiatry?  It's sordid. 

 

Reducing the human psych down to a bunch of molecules/genes-relentlessly looking for that 'magic bullet'...

 

putting the soul under a microscope!

 

In my opinion Psychiatry is no science , its speculation.

Freud was a lunatic and must have been cloned, how sad.

There is sometimes a lot of anti-psychiatry talk on this forum.  Personally, I am no supporter of a lot of psychiatry as it is currently practiced but I have never felt the need to voice my opinions on this matter because doing so goes against the forum rules.  I know there are many threads like this one but that doesn't mean it's ok.

 

"Anti-doctor, Anti-psychiatrist and Anti-medicine Comments"

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=73877.0

There is sometimes a lot of anti-psychiatry talk on this forum.  Personally, I am no supporter of a lot of psychiatry as it is currently practiced but I have never felt the need to voice my opinions on this matter because doing so goes against the forum rules.  I know there are many threads like this one but that doesn't mean it's ok.

 

"Anti-doctor, Anti-psychiatrist and Anti-medicine Comments"

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=73877.0

 

Fair enough Braban, acknowledged.