The nation’s top two mental health officials say it’s time to focus on prevention rather than rehabilitation when it comes to autism and other mental disorders.
In a commentary to be published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, and Philip Wang, the agency’s deputy director, argue that the best treatments for mental disorders likely are not ones that take place after symptoms of the disorder have fully onset. Rather, they say research should focus on uncovering the genes behind such conditions and better understanding the brain circuitry involved.
“It is time to rethink mental disorders, recognizing that these are disorders of brain circuits likely caused by developmental processes shaped by a complex interplay of genetics and experience,” they write.
Insel and Wang point to two recent studies suggesting that autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are hereditary in nature. And they say researchers are already seeing positive results in genetic research on fragile X syndrome, which carries important implications for understanding both autism and intellectual disability. New knowledge about the genetics behind fragile X led to quick trials of drugs which researchers say hold promise in treating the disorder.
“The behavioral and cognitive manifestations that signify these as ‘mental’ illnesses may be late stages of processes that start early in development,” they write. “If genetics and neuroscience could provide rigorous, specific, early detection years before psychosis or depression, these illnesses might be redefined in terms of a trajectory.”
First they have to figure out what causes autism, before they can prevent it, and I really don’t care because my grandson already has it, like millions of other kids and adults. Unless they can come up with a pill or a procedure that can fix it, I’d like some of the money to go for research into dealing with the existing conditions. And even if they can identify the specific causes, who says they can actually prevent anything?
Understanding the genetics involved could lead to fewer births of children with autism, but this poses an obvious ethical dilemma. Since no test is foolproof we will still have people born with these disabilities and as eddyjohn asks, what then? Well, today that means that your insurance company pays for nearly nothing and you’re up a creek. But hey, let’s get moving on those genetic tests…
I understand the desire for continual funding of treatment for individuals who already have these disabilities. The disabilities will never go away completely regardless of whether a cause is found through genetic testing. This fact does not change the fact that I still believe identifying causes of disabilities is essential. This is true for several reasons. First it is much better to prevent issues than backtrack and treat them if possible. Understanding the causes of these could greatly reduce the numbers of people who have to suffer through various issues. Second, understanding the cause, source and path of disability development can help with treating individuals who do have and display symptoms, because it gives more information about the nature of the disability. Finally, I do not believe that anyone would think that in order to fund research into the source of various conditions we should cut treatment. The chances of understanding the cause completely curing or wiping out these disabilities are slim to none.
Telling the truth would be the best approach to autism. We learned that is is all caused by mercury in vaccines eleven years ago. Ten years ago, we learned how to cure it by removing the mercury from the brain with ALA chelation.
Thomas Insel is not telling anyone the truth and he should be fired. Anyone who wants to cure their autistic child should look me up and I’ll tell you how to cure them.
Regarding what swimmonX3 said “Second, understanding the cause, source and path of disability development can help with treating individuals who do have and display symptoms, because it gives more information about the nature of the disability”
Why has this not happened for Down Syndrome? We have had a genetic test for it since (I believe) the 70′s. Are we any closer to preventing it (other than abortion)? No. Do we have new treatments for it other than traditional therapies? No. Call me cynical, but I see the same thing happening with autism.