ARMENIAN RESEARCHERS DEVELOP NEW TEST TO DIAGNOSE PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Armenpress
Sept 25 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: A team of researchers from the
Armenian Molecular Biology Institute, an affiliation of the National
Academy of Sciences, said they have developed a test that can help
doctors and psychiatrists to diagnose people with schizophrenia.

The new test can be applied by doctors in clinics, mental houses and
psychiatrists in research centers.

Until now schizophrenics are often initially diagnosed based on display
of what doctors call ‘prodromal’ signs, which are signs preceding a
psychotic episode.

Schizophrenic prodromal signs may include social isolation, odd
behavior, lack of personal hygiene, and blunted emotions and sometimes
schizophrenia is diagnosed through the patient’s response to different
therapeutic regimens.

Armenian researchers have developed their new test after examining
200 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, tens of people suffering
from other illnesses and also 225 physically healthy people.

Schizophrenia is estimated to afflict 1% of the world’s population,
whereas schizotypal personality disorder afflicts 2-3%. The incidence
of schizophrenia among parents, children, and siblings of patients
with the disease is 15%. It occurs equally in males and females.

The disease may be seen at any age, but the average age for the
initiation of treatment is from 28-34 years. Schizophrenia is
associated with low economic status, probably due to a lack of proper
health care during fetal development.