A recent study has shown that normal controls can be differentiated from people with Schizophrenia with a 98% accuracy. This involves a simple eye screening exam that takes a minimal of equipment and expertise. The initial study involved 180 individuals and was done in Scotland. A larger scale, more definitive study is in the works, but these preliminary results are extremely compeling.
Schizophrenia is a biologically based, genetic psychiatric disorder, which usually presents in young adulthood. The normal symptoms are thought distortion, paranoia, and often auditory hallucinations. It is a progressive illness, with death commonly in the early 50’s. Often the person is disabled and housebound much of their adult life. Early detection helps a person remain mainstreamed and minimizes the worst of the debilitation. It is also helpful to differentiate from bipolar disorders and drug induced psychosis, which have a different etiology, and different outcomes. Until now, clinical assessment and response to treatment were our only guides.
Hopefully, more early screening can be implemented with aggressive treatment approaches to give people with this illness their best chance at a productive life. These advances can also help reduce the last of the stigmas connected with this brain based, genetic disorder. We will all closely watch the follow up study for results and, hopefully, widespread use of this tool.
Call now: (817) 481-2767 make an appointment