Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 7962

Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses

Posted by Cynthia on June 28, 1999, at 18:38:39

I've been hearing lots of good things lately about genetic medicine. Does anyone know if this type of medicine could eventually help us? Or does anyone know if there are any 'superstar' medications being formulated or discovered that we could have access to in the near future?

Let's hope
Cynthia

 

Re: Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses

Posted by Jan on July 4, 1999, at 15:29:37

In reply to Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses, posted by Cynthia on June 28, 1999, at 18:38:39

> I've been hearing lots of good things lately about genetic medicine. Does anyone know if this type of medicine could eventually help us? Or does anyone know if there are any 'superstar' medications being formulated or discovered that we could have access to in the near future?
>
> Let's hope
> Cynthia

Hi, Cynthia. What is "genetic medicine"? Where and what did you hear about it?

 

Re: Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses

Posted by cynthia on July 4, 1999, at 21:31:53

In reply to Re: Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses, posted by Jan on July 4, 1999, at 15:29:37

Jan,

I heard about it on the Discovery Channel and Oprah. Supposidly, medicine will be cloning new livers and kidneys, etc., for people when they need them, and soon. These scientists all seemed very optimistic about the unlimited potential usages of this type of medicine. I was hoping someone else would know if this would or could be helpful for mental illnesses.

Cynthia

 

Re: Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses

Posted by Jan on July 6, 1999, at 19:08:02

In reply to Re: Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses, posted by cynthia on July 4, 1999, at 21:31:53

> Jan,
>
> I heard about it on the Discovery Channel and Oprah. Supposidly, medicine will be cloning new livers and kidneys, etc., for people when they need them, and soon. These scientists all seemed very optimistic about the unlimited potential usages of this type of medicine. I was hoping someone else would know if this would or could be helpful for mental illnesses.
>
> Cynthia

Hi, Cynthia -- Funny thing is, I used to date a guy that was on the cutting edge of this research. So far, I haven't heard about any connections to *mental* illness, but I don't make a point of keeping up-to-date on it. When I last heard about it, their goal was to create replacement organs for people in need. (You and I don't necessarily need organ replacements, just chemical readjustments!)

Here are some links to other sites, starting out with a news item that just happened to run today!
http://news.excite.com/news/r/990706/16/news-health-cells
http://www.geron.com (the company my ex-date founded)

Apparently, the web has lots of other information on this research...

Good luck!

 

Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease

Posted by nancy on July 22, 1999, at 20:52:32

In reply to Re: Future treatments for emotional/mental illnesses, posted by cynthia on July 4, 1999, at 21:31:53

Yes! There is a potential cure for this disease: Neural stem cell transplantation. I'm waiting to be a human test subject. A member of HCF (Brad's email is; HCFmail@aol.com), and I, are conversing on this subject. He explained to me that, after the HCF conference, next year, there should be a place providing human neural tissue transplantations.

However, if you're going to wait for the "gene therapy", rather than the stem cell transplantation, you'll probably be waiting several more years just for the results of the Human Genome Project. It will be a few more years after discovering the chromosomes responsible for the complex disease, known as bipolar disorder, to be treated with a gene therapy technique. Another minor hitch in this therapy being immediately available, is the uncertainty of an appropriate vector, with which the transfected DNA may be introduced into the patient.

yadda, yadda, yadda...lots of work, brilliance and productive results in these two areas of neuroscience.

I've surfed through oceans of information...many, many resources on the net. I'll fish out the real catches-of-the-day and post them, if you like. Also, you are welcome to zap some email through the cable at me.

Hang Ten : )
nancy


> Jan,
>
> I heard about it on the Discovery Channel and Oprah. Supposidly, medicine will be cloning new livers and kidneys, etc., for people when they need them, and soon. These scientists all seemed very optimistic about the unlimited potential usages of this type of medicine. I was hoping someone else would know if this would or could be helpful for mental illnesses.
>
> Cynthia

 

Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease

Posted by Cynthia on July 23, 1999, at 22:35:54

In reply to Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease, posted by nancy on July 22, 1999, at 20:52:32

> Yes! There is a potential cure for this disease: Neural stem cell transplantation. I'm waiting to be a human test subject. A member of HCF (Brad's email is; HCFmail@aol.com), and I, are conversing on this subject. He explained to me that, after the HCF conference, next year, there should be a place providing human neural tissue transplantations.
>
> However, if you're going to wait for the "gene therapy", rather than the stem cell transplantation, you'll probably be waiting several more years just for the results of the Human Genome Project. It will be a few more years after discovering the chromosomes responsible for the complex disease, known as bipolar disorder, to be treated with a gene therapy technique. Another minor hitch in this therapy being immediately available, is the uncertainty of an appropriate vector, with which the transfected DNA may be introduced into the patient.
>
> yadda, yadda, yadda...lots of work, brilliance and productive results in these two areas of neuroscience.
>
> I've surfed through oceans of information...many, many resources on the net. I'll fish out the real catches-of-the-day and post them, if you like. Also, you are welcome to zap some email through the cable at me.
>
> Hang Ten : )
> nancy
>
Hi Nancy,

Aren't you the mad scientist? Just the kind of person I like to keep in touch with. No one is smarter than a crazy scientist. Science doesn't interest me, but god, getting better does. Yes, keep fishing and let me and, probably a collective bulletin board, US informed of your catches of the day. I'm ticking off that little box that says 'notify me of later follow-ups to this thread' now. You just gave me quite a bit of hope.

Thanks,
Cynthia

ps you sound pretty good.

 

mad scientists & stuff

Posted by Elizabeth on July 25, 1999, at 22:47:40

In reply to Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease, posted by Cynthia on July 23, 1999, at 22:35:54

> Aren't you the mad scientist? Just the kind of person I like to keep in touch with. No one is smarter than a crazy scientist.

Sometimes! The trouble with mad scientists (I don't place Nancy in this category - sorry Nancy, you're just not nuts about) is that they have very creative ideas, but most often it's hard to separate the truly brilliant parts from the parts that are just nuts! There was a guy who was notorious at MIT for this - "the bald guy," this guy (bald of course) who carried around two shopping bags full of loose papers and smelled like he never showered. He would sit in on all the trendy math and physics classes (I came across him in differential geometry and GR) and ask totally off-the-wall questions that seemed pretty irrelevant and possibly just nonsensical, except that they could very well have been brilliant and we just didn't know any better. (Judging from what my professors had to say, though, most of his questions were just plain loopy.)

Rumor was that he had been a physics professor at BU until he had an accident (car?) that resulted in some sort of brain damage.

>Science doesn't interest me, but god, getting better does.

That's a shame, that science doesn't interest you. For me, it's a lifestyle. I don't share Nancy's confidence that there will be a cure for manic-depressive illness in the next few years (and I'm pretty sure that gene therapy won't be the answer, though it might be used to prevent the disorder in children with the relevant genes), but I certainly do think that science and technology are the keys to treating and preventing illness of all kinds, despite the current popularity of new-age therapies of various sorts.

 

Re: mad scientists & stuff

Posted by cynthia on July 29, 1999, at 23:37:57

In reply to mad scientists & stuff, posted by Elizabeth on July 25, 1999, at 22:47:40

Elizabeth


-I was only joking
Yes, I'm very glad some people like you devote themselves to science, I just meant it's not for me.

Nancy,

Did you ever find out why bipolar depression is sometimes so difficult to treat? I think it was you that did a posting about this.

Thanks,
Cynthia

You sounded so good in your postings last week. How have you come to feel this good? I'm very happy for you if this is the case.

 

Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease

Posted by mad scientist; nancy on July 31, 1999, at 19:43:32

In reply to Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease, posted by Cynthia on July 23, 1999, at 22:35:54

hi Cynthia. yep, that's moi. after recieving a bachelor with honors degree in chemistry, i continued on in search of the holy grail (found more naughty bits - "monty python" humor). as a graduate research associate of neuroscience, my research focused in fetal tissue transplantation as a potential treatment for parkinsonian. now, we use neural stem cell lines, instead of neural tissue from fetal sources.

ironically, years later, my manic depression knocked the stuffing out of me. you know the saying, "physician heal thyself"? i'm my own frankenstein! it appears that the area of research, in which i was involved, will be my personal salvation. it seems a very convincing argument that neural stem cell lines can be used in a variety of neurological disorders, as per reams of research papers i've studied and reread (just because i like to read all the time).

to elizabeth:
i'm one of the lucky mad scientists. learning has never been overwhelming or difficult for me. so, i've had much time for greater study and research loads (and a fun life) than most others. although, i'm currently plagued with word finding difficulty, i'm still powerfully capable of synthesizing, both, complex and abstract information.

the bipolar-1 psychotic features i've experienced, have never explored the realms of science, as of yet (knock on computer desk). actually, one delusion had me sure that i was on the set of "saturday night live" (of all nonrealities, why there? i don't know. i never even watch the program) I was in an ER at the infamous moment, when i stood up and called out, "live from new york, it's saturday night!" LOL...weird but true.

but, my achilles heel has been the periods of disabling bipolar depression and mania. fortunately, the episodes have been separated by years of intense energy and great mental capacity. LOL...but, it's like someone slipped me a potion that induced persona switching between the dr. genius and ms. mental midget. weird but true.

i'll be back with some juicy research info. just got my computer up and running after it crashed and burned. fortunately, i have back up copies of the info on diskette.

going swimming now... :)


> Hi Nancy,
>
> Aren't you the mad scientist? Just the kind of person I like to keep in touch with. No one is smarter than a crazy scientist. Science doesn't interest me, but god, getting better does. Yes, keep fishing and let me and, probably a collective bulletin board, US informed of your catches of the day. I'm ticking off that little box that says 'notify me of later follow-ups to this thread' now. You just gave me quite a bit of hope.
>
> Thanks,
> Cynthia
>
> ps you sound pretty good.

 

Saturday Night Live (way off-topic :-)

Posted by Elizabeth on August 1, 1999, at 2:29:58

In reply to Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease, posted by mad scientist; nancy on July 31, 1999, at 19:43:32

> I was in an ER at the infamous moment, when i stood up and called out, "live from new york, it's saturday night!"

Was it Saturday night when you said this, at least?

> but, my achilles heel has been the periods of disabling bipolar depression and mania. fortunately, the episodes have been separated by years of intense energy and great mental capacity. LOL...but, it's like someone slipped me a potion that induced persona switching between the dr. genius and ms. mental midget. weird but true.

Not so weird. Lots of bipolar folks are creative. (People don't seem to realize that science requires just as much creativity as art, if not more. "Truth is stranger than fiction" kind of deal, you know.) It might even be due to residual manic symptoms. (Why not? People have residual depression.)

 

Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease

Posted by Cynthia on August 4, 1999, at 21:25:38

In reply to Re: Present, future; possible cure for bipolar disease, posted by mad scientist; nancy on July 31, 1999, at 19:43:32

Hi Nancy,

I'm so glad your ECT worked so well for you (I was reading your other posts). I remember when you were talking about suicide.

Your personality really jumps out of the page for me when I read your postings. You're so bright, and so full of ideas and humour and life! Keep up the good work and keep us informed.

Cynthia

 

Re: mad scientists & stuff

Posted by DC on August 11, 1999, at 8:29:06

In reply to mad scientists & stuff, posted by Elizabeth on July 25, 1999, at 22:47:40

It seems to me like you must spend an awful lot of time on here. Maybe you'd feel better if you got outside more. But dang, you are a smart gal. You'll probably be a great psychiatrist and make loads of money. You're smart, on the right track. So what's the problem? Just a biological feeling totally unrelated to life circumstances? I feel like that sometimes. But there is something to be said for studying philosophy, religion, delving into the creative arts. Science is great but I wouldn't want to waste all my time investigating drugs when I could be writing the great american novel or traveling on peace missions or protesting the superficiality of american culture. I mean you got to admit that--our society is whacked. We're inundated with nonsense that is bound to make a sensitive person go nuts. The ones who adapt so well are most likely missing parts of their brains. American culture is anti-intellectual, pro-superficial. If you're really really happy in this land, then I'd say you're probably a boob.

> > Aren't you the mad scientist? Just the kind of person I like to keep in touch with. No one is smarter than a crazy scientist.
>
> Sometimes! The trouble with mad scientists (I don't place Nancy in this category - sorry Nancy, you're just not nuts about) is that they have very creative ideas, but most often it's hard to separate the truly brilliant parts from the parts that are just nuts! There was a guy who was notorious at MIT for this - "the bald guy," this guy (bald of course) who carried around two shopping bags full of loose papers and smelled like he never showered. He would sit in on all the trendy math and physics classes (I came across him in differential geometry and GR) and ask totally off-the-wall questions that seemed pretty irrelevant and possibly just nonsensical, except that they could very well have been brilliant and we just didn't know any better. (Judging from what my professors had to say, though, most of his questions were just plain loopy.)
>
> Rumor was that he had been a physics professor at BU until he had an accident (car?) that resulted in some sort of brain damage.
>
> >Science doesn't interest me, but god, getting better does.
>
> That's a shame, that science doesn't interest you. For me, it's a lifestyle. I don't share Nancy's confidence that there will be a cure for manic-depressive illness in the next few years (and I'm pretty sure that gene therapy won't be the answer, though it might be used to prevent the disorder in children with the relevant genes), but I certainly do think that science and technology are the keys to treating and preventing illness of all kinds, despite the current popularity of new-age therapies of various sorts.

 

Re: mad scientists & stuff

Posted by Elizabeth on August 12, 1999, at 22:07:50

In reply to Re: mad scientists & stuff, posted by DC on August 11, 1999, at 8:30:12

> It seems to me like you must spend an awful lot of time on here.

Not really.

> Maybe you'd feel better if you got outside more.

Actually I feel pretty good now. Besides, in my part of the country at least, it's been deathly hot outside for much of the summer. I'll take A/C any day.

> But dang, you are a smart gal. You'll probably be a great psychiatrist and make loads of money. You're smart, on the right track.

Thank you. I'm not really interested in the money (and something tells me there isn't all *that* much of it in this profession), except for what I need to support myself and my family.

> So what's the problem?

Gosh, what problem? I'm confused.

> But there is something to be said for studying philosophy, religion, delving into the creative arts.

My parents are philosophy professors actually. That's why I'm so opinionated about such odd things. I don't care a lot about religion. I sing (and listen to) classical music - is that artsy enough for you? :-)

> Science is great but I wouldn't want to waste all my time investigating drugs when I could be writing the great american novel or traveling on peace missions or protesting the superficiality of american culture.

We each have our own interests. I would find your suggestions dull...I'd rather do something I thought could really help people (which is also a big reason why I gave up mathematics).

> I mean you got to admit that--our society is whacked. We're inundated with nonsense that is bound to make a sensitive person go nuts.

Depends what they're sensitive to.

> The ones who adapt so well are most likely missing parts of their brains.

You're talking about my little sister, dude - watch it.

> American culture is anti-intellectual, pro-superficial.

Yeah, but you have to admit that the South Park movie was funny.

> If you're really really happy in this land, then I'd say you're probably a boob.

That, or you've been able to find your niche, a little pocket where you fit in. And maybe you don't need everything to be perfect.

Don't begrudge others their happiness, eh?

 

Re: mad scientists & stuff

Posted by Stephan on August 12, 1999, at 23:30:05

In reply to Re: mad scientists & stuff, posted by Elizabeth on August 12, 1999, at 22:07:50

> > It seems to me like you must spend an awful lot of time on here.
>
> Not really.
>
> > Maybe you'd feel better if you got outside more.

DC, maybe you'd feel better if you stopped trying to bring other people down. Or is there something else you're trying to accomplish?


I sing (and listen to) classical music - is that artsy enough for you? :-)
>
Don't mean to slobber all over you, Elizabeth, but you're amazing! What kind of stuff do you sing?

> > Science is great but I wouldn't want to waste all my time investigating drugs when I could be writing the great american novel or traveling on peace missions or protesting the superficiality of american culture.
>
Peace missions? Diplomacy through insults?


> > The ones who adapt so well are most likely missing parts of their brains.
>
>
> That, or you've been able to find your niche, a little pocket where you fit in. And maybe you don't need everything to be perfect.
>
> Don't begrudge others their happiness, eh?

Well said.

 

to Stephan

Posted by Elizabeth on August 13, 1999, at 0:09:14

In reply to Re: mad scientists & stuff, posted by Stephan on August 12, 1999, at 23:30:05

> Don't mean to slobber all over you, Elizabeth, but you're amazing! What kind of stuff do you sing?

It's just a hobby. I like choral stuff, but I'm not in any groups right now.


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