[kosjenka]

Dear All!
Please, can someone tell me about tests for schizophrenia genes?
Many thanks!

[pachyderm]

Personally, I think any suggestion that there is such a genuine test is pure bunk.

[Atypical_Disaster]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Personally, I think any suggestion that there is such a genuine test is pure bunk.

Thank you.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by kosjenka

Dear All!
Please, can someone tell me about tests for schizophrenia genes?
Many thanks!

They don't really know yet although there are some candidate genes---but right now there is also linkage genetically between autism, schizophrenia and bipolar with the same genes and just because you have a gene doesn't mean you get the disease. Schizophrenia is both genetic and environmental so even with identical genes as in twins there is only about a 50/50 chance that you'll get sick.

[faerie_moon_x]

There was recently a study of 66,000 people (half with mental illness and half without,) that found similar problems with the same gene for 5 illnesses. Autism, schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, and ADD. It is the same gene but effects people differently. This research is very new.

The population was huge.

However, at this time the research needs to be repeated and more needs to be learned on it. There is no gene testing that you can have by a doctor. If you're interested in this, I would say search for finding out how to become part of the research.

You can read about the study here:
The Surprising Link Between Depression, ADHD, Bipolar, Schizophrenia and Autism

[newtus]

yea like im doing that 23andme dna testing but even i know that you may be susceptible and not get it at all. or that you may not be susceptible and get it. so much plays into it. after being diagnosed with it i realize at least half of the stuff was environmental for me

[faerie_moon_x]

I think I would do the gene testing if I could find out how to be in the study. I don't think my issues were environmental since I remember having problems with odd beliefs at 8 years old. Like... beyond the normal imaginative stuff for kids, I think. I really did believe my classmates had installed cameras in my bathroom at home so they could spy on me. And I was terrified to use the bathroom.

I also think I have always had some sort of mood disturbance because I remember as far back as I could remember being told I was too sensitive. I always felt like I didn't fit in with the rest of the world.

So, I would be interested to see the result of this.

[newtus]

you could goto that website i put on the other thread.

i had problems since i was extremely young. at 9 but younger too. and they werent always subtle. they seemed autistic in nature but could have been the Sz manifesting. because at 9 i was hearing and seeing things and paranoid with a very complex delusion at 9.

honestly id be surprised if it says my genes alone are not at risk or even if it says the risk is typical to average person.

[faerie_moon_x]

I would do that other test but I don't have money for it now. If they ever do a research that is free I'll have to do that one.

See, I have a lot of complex stuff from childhood. I guess it's hard to say. Only recently do they even acknowledge kids can have sz or bipolar.... I saw a documentary on a little girl who has sz. She sees numbers floating in the air that talk to her.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

I would do that other test but I don't have money for it now. If they ever do a research that is free I'll have to do that one.

See, I have a lot of complex stuff from childhood. I guess it's hard to say. Only recently do they even acknowledge kids can have sz or bipolar.... I saw a documentary on a little girl who has sz. She sees numbers floating in the air that talk to her.

you mean Jani Schofield? I am highly suspicious if she truly is SZ... or if there's lot and lot wrong with her family. If you have stomach for it, check Jani foundation on Facebook. Be prepared for abuse of word "holocaust", blaming everything (Boston attacks, terrorism in general) on mental illness (and proposals of forced treatment). I read some of their blog entries and both parents seemed to delighted to slap SZ label on their daughter (and now they try to get their 4 years old son diagnosed).

[newtus]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

you mean Jani Schofield? I am highly suspicious if she truly is SZ... or if there's lot and lot wrong with her family. If you have stomach for it, check Jani foundation on Facebook. Be prepared for abuse of word "holocaust", blaming everything (Boston attacks, terrorism in general) on mental illness (and proposals of forced treatment). I read some of their blog entries and both parents seemed to delighted to slap SZ label on their daughter (and now they try to get their 4 years old son diagnosed).

i questioned this too.
but idk wht to think.

[costello]

I saw that show with Jani too and felt uneasy. There's something wrong there. I mean with her parents. It's been a while since I watched the show, so I can't remember the details.

I googled 'jani schofield abuse' and it popped up sites suggesting Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. That actually makes sense to me.

[Atypical_Disaster]

nevermind.

[mimi2112]

seriously, i doubt any dx of a child so young. that dx i think is abusive. using myself as an example, and speaking of Munchausen's by proxy........... i was a loner and smarter than my peers as a child... i lived in a fantasy world most of the time. i assigned characters and personalities to numbers. i had an inability to do math. it was a foreign lanquage. all of that prompted the adults to label me, study me, test me. all of that psychological evaluating me from the age of 8 yrs old did a lot of damage to my self esteem. i grew up believing something was wrong... and i still have to battle this belief.

plus it angers me that children are being chemically altered because of these dx's.

[mimi2112]

Originally Posted by kosjenka

Dear All!
Please, can someone tell me about tests for schizophrenia genes?
Many thanks!

Sorry Kosjenka... we got off topic of your original question!

[costello]

Originally Posted by costello

I googled 'jani schofield abuse' and it popped up sites suggesting Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. That actually makes sense to me.

Having said that, I do know people who have children with severe emotional/behavioral problems who start acting odd. It's challenging to parent a child with serious problems, and odd starts seeming normal.

One thing that puzzles me about them is why they expose their daughter to this kind of attention. I suppose they'd say they were trying to get rid stigma or encourage research or something? I think I'd be inclined to protect my child's privacy.

This video for example:

She doesn't appear to be psychotic to me. Or even seriously intent on self-harm. But more importantly, why the heck is her mom videoing it and posting it on youtube?

I wonder how I'd act if my parents told me from the time I was very small that I had sz?

[faerie_moon_x]

I don't remember the little girl's name. It was a long time ago. The girl I'm talking about was very violent outside her safe places. I don't know...

I think it is a case by case situation where dx should be made early if it is helpful or not. Or, not necessarily to dx but to pin point if a child has a difference or tendancy then perhaps you could help them and lessen any external triggers somehow, therefore lessening the impact in adulthood. Like, more of an awareness of possibility, not medication or anything. Example of my 6 year old who I feel has ADD, but I don't want him in treatment or on meds. But, I am aware of his behavior and difficulty and would rather try to lessen impact on him by being understanding and then be aware of it so if he needs outside help later to be ready for it. You know?

Like, ignoring the problem completely like my parents did wasn't the right answer, I think.

[newtus]

AKA faking by association

...idk about jani....
...but that other little girl that said she wanted to kill people...
now THERES AN ISSUE THERE.

[costello]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

Like, ignoring the problem completely like my parents did wasn't the right answer, I think.

Maybe some parents just don't know what to do. What do you think would have been helpful?

I became very cynical about the mental health system with my younger son. I adopted him as a teen and spent years dragging him to therapists and psychiatrists and giving him pills. Nothing helped.

I also attended the parent support group meetings at the mhc. Most of the parents had serious issues of their own. I can only think of one family in which the children hadn't been abused and mistreated when they were very young. In that family, the younger child was autistic and his older sister was depressed and had substance abuse issues. I wondered if growing up with a disabled younger sib hadn't contributed to her problems.

The parents/grandparents were sincere in wishing to help their children. In all cases the kids were away from their abusers. But much of the discussion was about which meds weren't working and what meds to try next.

[newtus]

my parents did not do much for me when i was younger for my mental health.
still dont and by now i dont expect them too.

i was very emotionally distraught as a child and all in my teens.
and heard voices and was extremely fearful. it caused me to almost fail high school.
i had to goto an alternative school for last few weeks of high schoool because i became to fearful to leave the house i was so scared of people.
many times i had to be dragged or i screamed or physically ran out of the school building (this was mostly at 17) stuff like that.
just so scared of people.
i rarely spent time outside my house.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by costello

Maybe some parents just don't know what to do. What do you think would have been helpful?

When my mom was alive I went for a few months to a child psychologist. It was helpful. I was going because I would have sever pain when running in gym class and fall down. After having a few blood tests it was determined I was making it up for attention (which I wasn't,) so they sent me to the child psychologist. I was 12. Still no idea what was causing it to this day.

It was maybe 2 months I went to see the psychologist.

My mom was really sick and low on money due to her cancer treatment being $5,000 every few months. So, I would hear my dad yelling at her what a waste of money to take me to see the psychocologist. So, I told my mom I felt better and didn't have to go any more.

Not long after was my first suicide attempt. Which was in front of my mom. She didn't take me to the ER or another psychologist or anything. She just went and lay down on her bed, which I think was her giving up on life. It was before my 13th birthday, within 8 months of that she passed away. I still to this day hold the guilt that I snapped the last will of hope for her to live.

So, after that what? Nothing. If I would tell my dad I needed help he would say "You're a teenager! What do you have to be depressed about? Everyone is depressed. Suck it up and shut up about it." So, I had another suicide attempt later when I was 14, home alone but it didn't work and I lived through it. I never went to the ER or even bother to tell my dad. Again when I was 16 I was suicidal but happened upon a teacher while crying and he saved me that day from another attempt. And, you know, battling all the time suicidal thoughts.

So, you know... some sort of showing that he cared would have been more than what I got as a kid.

[costello]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

it was determined I was making it up for attention

I almost shared a story about a little boy whose mom said he was 'just doing it for attention.' Typed it all out then deleted it. This seems to be a standard response when adults don't know what to do.

I still to this day hold the guilt that I snapped the last will of hope for her to live.

I understand why you feel guilty, but I don't think this was your fault.

So, you know... some sort of showing that he cared would have been more than what I got as a kid.

[Atypical_Disaster]

it was determined I was making it up for attention

I'm sorry this happened to you.

---

A bit off topic(like the rest of this thread, hahaha), but I'm wondering where the "making it up for attention" thing comes from when it comes to psychiatrists. They seem to have this idea that they're good at giving their patients adequate attention. That's just, hilarious. Average session is 15/20 minutes to get meds and sent out the door. Not exactly what I would call "attention" but what do I know, I'm just out of touch with reality...

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by Atypical_Disaster

I'm sorry this happened to you.

---

A bit off topic(like the rest of this thread, hahaha), but I'm wondering where the "making it up for attention" thing comes from when it comes to psychiatrists. They seem to have this idea that they're good at giving their patients adequate attention. That's just, hilarious. Average session is 15/20 minutes to get meds and sent out the door. Not exactly what I would call "attention" but what do I know, I'm just out of touch with reality...

I don't think it's that people think you're trying to get a psychiatrists attention, but that everyday people think we want them to be "Oh, there there, poor baby. Let me hug and pat you on the head until you feel all better."