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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by freedom2001 on October 24, 2003, at 1:35:34
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Gene Found for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Thu Oct 23, 1:15 PM ET Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Japanese researchers said on Thursday they had found a genetic mutation that causes obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental illnesses and said some patients had a second mutation that made their conditions worse.
The rare finding could make it easier to discover good treatments for the disorder, one of the top 10 leading causes of disability worldwide.
Dr. Norio Ozaki of Fujita Health University School of Medicine in Toyoake, Japan and colleagues at several U.S. institutions -- including the University of Pittsburgh and Yale University -- worked on the study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
The gene is called the human serotonin transporter gene, hSERT, and helps control how the body uses serotonin, a message-carrying chemical or neurotransmitter linked with mood.
Some anxiety drugs and antidepressants target serotonin, but the researchers said patients with the mutations are not helped by these drugs.
"In all of molecular medicine, there are few known instances where two variants within one gene have been found to alter the expression and regulation of the gene in a way that appears associated with symptoms of a disorder," said Dr. Dennis Murphy of the National Institute of Mental Health, who worked on the study.
The researchers analyzed DNA from 170 people, including 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 30 with eating disorders such as anorexia and 30 with seasonal affective disorder -- which can cause depression and other symptoms in dark winter months.
They also looked at the DNA of 80 healthy people.
A specific mutation in the hSERT gene was seen in two patients with OCD and their families, but not in other patients.
With such a rare mutation showing up, the researchers believe it is likely to be found in other families with OCD and related disorders.
They interviewed relatives of the patients and found 6 of the 7 people with the mutation had an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and some also had anorexia, Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism, social phobia or were abusers of alcohol.
A second mutation was found in hSERT in two patients, giving them a "double dose." The patients and their siblings had especially difficult to treat versions of OCD, the researchers said.
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Posted by Elle2021 on October 24, 2003, at 2:17:15
In reply to BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003!, posted by freedom2001 on October 24, 2003, at 1:35:34
Thank you so much for posting this article. I have struggled with untreatable OCD since I was about 11...I was beginning to lose hope. This article really cheered me up! Bless you.
Elle
Posted by Robert Fairburn on October 24, 2003, at 3:11:17
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003! » freedom2001, posted by Elle2021 on October 24, 2003, at 2:17:15
> Thank you so much for posting this article. I have struggled with untreatable OCD since I was about 11...I was beginning to lose hope. This article really cheered me up! Bless you.
> Elle
Isn't hope the fire that keeps us alive, Im happy for you Elle2021Robert
Posted by freedom2001 on October 24, 2003, at 3:45:24
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003! » freedom2001, posted by Elle2021 on October 24, 2003, at 2:17:15
> Thank you so much for posting this article. I have struggled with untreatable OCD since I was about 11...I was beginning to lose hope. This article really cheered me up! Bless you.
> ElleDear Elle,
I too had OCD since 14, and this terrible illness had wreacked much havoc on my life and I hate it a lot.
This superb discovery has also made waves in 2 OCD news and support groups. I'm sure thousands of OCD patients in those two groups would stand up and cheer as well!
May God bless and heal you and all others!
Freedom.
Posted by freedom2001 on October 24, 2003, at 3:48:16
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003!, posted by Robert Fairburn on October 24, 2003, at 3:11:17
> > Thank you so much for posting this article. I have struggled with untreatable OCD since I was about 11...I was beginning to lose hope. This article really cheered me up! Bless you.
> > Elle
>
>
> Isn't hope the fire that keeps us alive, Im happy for you Elle2021
>
> Robert
>Dear Robert,
yes I fully agree. HOPE is the fire that keeps us alive!Today is the Indian Deepavali holiday in Singapore. And 23 Oct 2003 is a HOPEFUL day for me here in Singapore and for all others around the world.
Pls help spread the news to give HOPE to all OCD patients!
Thanks!
May God bless you!
Freedom.
Posted by Elle2021 on October 25, 2003, at 0:05:19
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003!, posted by Robert Fairburn on October 24, 2003, at 3:11:17
Bless you for your kind words Robert! :) :)
Elle
Posted by Marty mc Fly on October 25, 2003, at 18:17:03
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003! » Elle2021, posted by freedom2001 on October 24, 2003, at 3:45:24
Could you tell the url's of those OCD support groups ?
Tnanx Marty
Posted by Elle2021 on October 25, 2003, at 22:48:05
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003!, posted by Marty mc Fly on October 25, 2003, at 18:17:03
http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.html
There's also one called Organized Chaos, but it is directed more towards teens.
Elle
Posted by freedom2001 on October 26, 2003, at 1:54:45
In reply to Re: BREAKTHROUGH! OCD GENE FOUND! 23 OCT 2003!, posted by Marty mc Fly on October 25, 2003, at 18:17:03
> Could you tell the url's of those OCD support groups ?
>
> Tnanx Marty
Hi,They are alt.support.ocd newsgroup
and the other I don't think you wish to join coz there's a flame war going on there.
This is the end of the thread.
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