Anxiety Disorders Discoverable by Blood Test

Tomer Yaffe writes to tell us that researchers at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem have discovered a technique to diagnose anxiety disorders with a simple blood test. From the article: "The researchers hope that the anxiety blood test will soon make its way into hospitals and E.R. rooms and give doctors and psychiatrists a quick and precise tool for examining, and eventually treating, these disorders." The team has also set their sights on depression, hoping for a similar technique to detect these types of disorders as well.

Comments

As a psychologist

[Frothy Walrus]

I find this attitude to be the singlemost prevalent misconception in the field today. In my studied opinion it is far better for the chemical/physical causes of mental illness to be hidden safely away from the subject. The patient should understand that their problem stems from within themselves, not from generations of malignant genes. This places the burden and yoke of recovery squarely on their shoulders, where it belongs.

Sticking a needle in the patient's urethra?

[CyricZ]

Maybe they'll stick the needle in the patient's urinary tract. If he or she can handle having a tube of metal stuck in his or her pee hole, then perhaps he or she isn't so anxious after all.

Re:As a psych student

[LeonGeeste]

Look, honey, another person modding down a well-reasoned post because he disagreed with it.

That's nice, dear.

Re:As a psych student

[LeonGeeste]

The depressed prefer death to continued existence (or so they claim). That is a preference. In reality, of course, the overwhelming majority do not commit suicide, proving that the whole time they were fully capable of not committing suicide and didn't really prefer death.

That you deem this preference "irrational" is your moral judgment. Many have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to work for a wage or borrow money at interest if they weren't being coerced. Should Alan Turing have been locked up for his homosexuality? (In fact, he was, using your exact reasoning.) Should non-socialist laborers be locked up for "supporting the wage system"? (In fact, many were, using your exact reasoning.)

Btw, rational Alan Turing committed suicide.