canasia.org

BBC News Tuesday, 4 July, 2000, 01:47 GMT 02:47 UK Breath test 'can diagnose schizophrenia' http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/health/newsid_817000/817869.stm  A simple breath test could be used to diagnose and monitor somebody with schizophrenia, say scientists. Research to be presented at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' annual meeting in Edinburgh shows analysis of human breath can help to identify schizophrenics. The studies show that people with schizophrenia have higher levels of some of the gases contained in human breath compared with those who do not have the condition. These gases include carbon disulphide, pentane, ethane and butane and the increased levels may be caused by the way their body breaks down fat. Work is underway to find out exactly why these differences occur. There are nearly 400 different elements of human breath and studies have shown the presence of abnormal elements can be used to diagnose many diseases. Developments in technology are enabling doctors to diagnose even more conditions through breath analysis. 'A useful aid' Doctors will be told that subject to clinical trials, breath tests could become in common practice. Dr Marion Ross, who practises at the Highland Psychiatric Research Foundation, in Inverness, will tell delegates at the meeting breath analysis may be a useful aid in diagnosing patients. She will also suggest breath tests could be used to monitor the condition and allow for drugs to be tailored exactly for the patient. At present, the test is being piloted to see if it is reliable and effective in diagnosing schizophrenia. Approximately one per cent of the population develop schizophrenia during their lives, with both men and women equally affected. The condition, which can be controlled by medication, sometimes causes paranoid delusions which can drive sufferers to commit suicide or kill loved ones or even complete strangers.

Why is it whenever a psychiatrist opens his mouth I smell methane? John Just don't light a match when in the same room as a shrink.

I'd like to see psychiatrists' breath analyzed. I'd like to see what a psychiatrist's MRI looks like. Now that might be interesting. Katie One would be shown to be absolutely toxic; the second would reveal a profound hollowness.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (FCS) wrote in <8jtb86$ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it : Why is it whenever a psychiatrist opens his mouth I smell methane? John Just don't light a match when in the same room as a shrink. That's not methane John..the psychs have a tendency to talk a lot of shit*, that's what that smell comes from. * aka False Diagnosis Utterance  Disorder or FDUD Mike