Welcome to our July 2009 newsletter.
In this issue:
- New research dismisses 'depression gene'
- "Psychiatric diagnoses are less reliable than star signs"
- New HG peer groups
- A case of severe child-onset schizophrenia
New research dismisses the 'depression gene'
New research analysing 14 studies over the last six years is debunking the widely held belief that a 'depression gene' is the cause for major depression – perhaps not a total surprise for those familiar with the human givens understanding of the causes of depression. Efforts to replicate the 2003 study which proposed the existence of such a gene have failed, while the link between depression and stressful life events was seen to be strengthened across all the studies (supporting the human givens approach to treating depression).
"A more serious concern ... is that the findings of this [earlier 2003 study] and other non-replicated genetic associations are now being translated to a range of clinical, legal, research, and social settings such as forensics, diagnostic testing, study participants, and the general public," writes Neil Risch, PhD, of the University of California at San Francisco.
"It is critical that health practitioners and scientists in other disciplines recognize the importance of replication of such findings before they can serve as valid indicators of disease risk."
Ref: Risch, N. The Journal of the American Medical Association, June 17, 2009; vol 301: pp 2462–2471.
"Psychiatric diagnoses are less reliable than
star signs"
So says psychologist Richard Bentall in a recent incendiary article in The Times about his latest book (right): "at least with star signs you can agree on who has which sign. Psychiatric diagnoses are unreliable and largely invalid". He is a vocal exponent against fixed SSRI drug trials (see the work of Irving Kirsch) and the corrupt nature of the pharmaceutical industry. He believes that the key to successful treatment of mental health is good psychotherapy, not medication: “What works is being kind and listening to people, encouraging them to be optimistic and treating them with respect. The tragedy of psychiatry is that it makes patients feel that they are objects to be chemically tinkered with by a bunch of arrogant people in suits.”
The full Times article is well worth a read, click here.
(Click here to read an earlier interview with Richard Bentall in the Human Givens journal.)
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New HG Peer Groups
There are now two new peer groups for students and graduates of the Human Givens Diploma course. The West Cornwall group is run by Hilary Farmer (next meeting 13th July) and the Cambridge group is run by Lucas Oliver (next meeting 17th July).
Further information about all of the human givens peer groups (including contact details and meeting dates) is available on the Professional Members' area of the HGI website.
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Insight into a case of severe child-onset schizophrenia
The mental health world has been rocked recently by US news reports about one of the youngest cases of child-onset schizophrenia to be reported. Apparently born with schizophrenia and seemingly unaffected by strong doses of anti-psychotic medication, six-year-old Jani suffers from full blown psychosis, including constant hallucinations and disturbing voices.
Interestingly, from when she was a newborn baby Jani hardly ever slept, taking 30 minute 'power naps' and therefore missing out on vital REM sleep – "Jani was different from the start, sleeping fitfully for only about four hours a day. Most infants sleep 14 to 16 hours a day."
Click here to watch a video interview with the family.
(Also see: www.why-we-dream.com/psychosis.htm )
One last thought...
"[Sleep is] the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together." Thomas Dekker (d.1632)
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Best wishes
Jane Tyrrell
Human Givens Institute
www.hgi.org.uk
Further information:
Useful publications: www.humangivens.com
Courses and training:www.mindfields.org.uk
Talk about the human givens: www.vimeo.com/754995
Registered charity:www.hgfoundation.com
Blog: www.mindfields.org.uk/blog
Website about depression: www.lift-depression.com
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