Technical info...Certainly over my head... But may be relevant in search for truth:
From Psychiatric Times, March 2, 2017. Article titled "Impaired Glucose Homeostasis in First-Episode Schizophrenia.". Brian Miller MD PHD.
One quote of interest -
" There is evidence for other metabolic abnormalities in patients with first episode psychosis including inflammation and oxidative stress.".
Second quote -
" Only hemoglobin A1c was not altered in FEP patients vs controls."
(Folks, there are other more sophisticated ways to measure glucose abnormalities all of which were higher in study patients vs controls)
Ok. So I do not want to mislead anybody by giving only two excerpts from study summary.
From what my tiny brain could gather, research was supporting hypothesis of alterations in glucose Homeostasis (equilibrium) in patients with first episode psychosis. They were further linking schizophrenia and prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
Now, I have no capacity to interpret or give any opinion on study summary that I read. I am no doctor or psychologist.
What interests me are two points:
Hemoglobin A1c is only one screening tool for glucose measure and if anyone has interest in that like I do, then it was worth pointing out.
Glucose is major source of fuel to cells in body and feeds the brain. Notice please that I said the brain and not the "mind.". Although, I assume the brain feeds the mind but they are not the same thing.
If glucose abnormalities link to or pre-date a first episode psychosis as suggested, then I have to think about how glucose may relate to my neurologic deficits because of glucose being part of my metabolic system which impacts every cell in my body... All 37 trillion or so of them based on some estimates.
But, if I throw in other findings like oxidative stress and inflammation both of which affect cellular function, then I really "shed my skin" like a snake over being treated like FND is solely of the mind.
I guide you all to give consideration of the difference between the brain and the mind. The brain is a physical organ. The mind is a mystery, one that drives your consciousness.
I think they are inextricably linked. But I do not believe you can "hop scotch" over issues with the brain, like metabolic abnormalities, and jump straight into the mind searching for emotional trauma events in isolation, to pinpoint why we all suffer.
More, much more, investigation of physical cause and effect phenomena in our disease is required to properly evaluate our disease.
Psychosis may have physical causes such as metabolic abnormalities which may even be transient in nature if the body is ultimately able to compensate through long term self repair.
Than you for reading. I only add to the list of questions that we all face. We cannot let our candle of reason burn low. We must light the next candle and search every new path. The ones that do not reach a deadend on us will illuminate our exit from the maze.
Keep asking why. If we seek without prejudice and we go forth with motives that are pure, then truth will unfold without obscurity and we will be able to answer the question of "why?"
I so respect the valuable contributions you make to this community. You both make the journey ahead much easier.
Good night my friends. Rest well and sleep with angels.
Consider how many psych conditions are treated with chemical drugs that successfully balance up the brain/mind chemistry - could these be just a sticking plaster that covers up the elusive underlying cause of imbalance. Consider the profound effect that hormones can have on mood and body functions. It is important for all organic/physiological avenues to be explored before pronouncing something as purely psychological - something which is often not done in many cases. This 'functional' definition jogs along fairly well with the non psychological thread until the word 'psychogenic' strangely pops up !
I'm non the wiser - seems like no one can agree on anything entirely ! In a court of Law, I note that the accused is assumed innocent until proven guilty. In neurology, it often seems that patients are presumed guilty of a psychological cause unless tests prove innocent. It is often the go to default blame setting, when a recognised standard medical test does not show positive results.This assumption and its accompanying bias often prevents further tests being initiated ( beware that further tests may reinforce 'sickness beliefs' in patients is the dubious often quoted medical mantra ) so thorough testing and ruling out of other causes is discontinued. So many illnesses/diseases do not show up on pretty pictures, especially in early stages. A 'normal' test result doesn't make the symptoms any less real, any less painful, any less challenging and life changing and most importantly, any less worthy of medical attention. So are we physiological or psychological ? Or are we a series of domino runs setting off chain reactions in many directions, leading to a phys/psych hybrid. It seems the old grey matter remains a very grey area still !
It seems so effortless and perfectly logical when it comes from you. I will quit writing because you say it all so well. I can only agree with you.
Today, I wrote a letter to the Associate Director of Neuro Anatomy at the Allen Institute of Brain Science here in Seattle. I wrote to ask a detailed and complex hypothetical question about this subject. I wrote it just in hope of stimulating scientific research interest about things you too want to know.
I will fight to the end to bring the focus of this subject back into balance. It is far too skewed to the psychological side.
If the problem is costing US$276 billion in the medical system here annually as they cited at the Emory conference, then we are going to have a lot of psych professionals flush with cash. It is a shame some of that does not find its way back into true research.
Yep. I am discouraged today. Wheel spinning is not my thing. If you see any openings in the standoff anywhere, let me know. I will be the first to jump in and see where it leads.
I believe that we are being affected in both the body and brain tissue by imbalances. I think it is our "mind" that becomes the victim in all of this. I refuse to buy in to the idea that the mind is the perpetrator.
I got a daughter's life at stake in this fight because she has the diagnosis too.
I have read many of your posts with interest - nice to see another feisty rebel not willing to lie down and take a nondescript label diagnosis ! This is the website we all get referred to in the UK after an FND diagnosis :
A 5% misdiagnosis rate is quoted - that could be expressed as one in 20 people. One in 20, wandering around with a known illness/disease, untreated, possibly progressing, left to sink or swim unsupported either until their persistence pays off, a cause is found incidentally whilst screening for another reason or symptoms potentially become so mind blowingly apparent/red flag that even the most biased medics would investigate. That's one in 20 of the patients that we know of - what of those who fell quietly away from seeking help, disheartened by the often demeaning medical attitudes, exhausted and struggling to cope with their challenges, too tired to play medical mind chess with disbelieving professionals in whom we are meant to trust. I don't know your background and am sorry to hear that your daughter is also affected - all I can say is that at least one in 20 of us is ultimately recognised as the 'real deal', with current technology. Who knows what advances may bring in the future. That's enough to keep me striving ! x
Nice to hear from you today. Once again, you produce such a compelling argument for challenging the system.
Family wise, my daughter and I share the trait of being a mixture of organic disease processes which have been laminated in FND.
It is now difficult to remove that coated surface even though our underlying diseases are clearly visible through it.
Strategically, I know of three processes I have to address:
Challenging the ethical basis used to define our care.
Uncovering why there is no funding to identify the true science behind FND and exposing the fallacy being used.
Pursuing scientific inquiries on our own for explanations.
I stubbornly reiterate:
Until someone discloses the science behind the approach to classifying this disease as psychological in origin, I discard that assumption and move on to hollering out loud to anyone I can that more physiologic testing is mandatory before organic disease linkage can truly be ruled out.
Medicine has zero reason to change its current approach because of financial incentives. What will change medicine is the linking of misdiagnosis with subsequent discovery of organic disease that left the sufferer worse off by delaying treatment of the actual condition. That aspect then becomes the basis for confrontation with the system.
I pray that with help we can become the most aggravating and irritating people on earth. Because, if we are even partially right about this, we will hound medicine until it begs for mercy for the suffering it has endorsed upon us.
I am tired, impaired and determined because family is collapsing under this weight. Like running over the yellow jacket nest in the ground when cutting the grass, something is going to come out flying with stingers bared for action.
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