Are there any genetic tests available for schizophrenia?

[mountainhare]

...

 

[valich]

No. Each of us, including each of our own "singular" brain, has its own genetically-coded entirety that cannot possibly change in schizophrenia. The changes that can be measured in schizophrenia are propable most apparent through electro-encephalogram tests.

 

[S.A.M.]

Haven't heard of a genetic test, but there may be a simple blood test in the near future:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1119114.stm

Professor Sara Fuchs, writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, believes she has found another way of finding out.

There are also dopamine receptors on the surface of white blood cells called lymphocytes.

The research team compared the number on the blood cells of diagnosed schizophrenics with the number on the blood cells of healthy individuals.

Even checking the number of these receptors on blood cells is extremely difficult, however, and the team, from the Weizmann Institute in Israel, found a way of testing the levels of molecules which control the formation of the receptors.

A statistical analysis showed that the blood of patients with schizophrenia on average contained 3.6 times more of these molecules, called D3 messenger RNA molecules, than the blood of healthy people.

The scientists suggest that this blood test may be able to give a reliable indication of when a patient could have schizophrenia.

Or even a smell test:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3224437.stm

Dr Warrick Brewer and colleagues at the University of Melbourne examined a group of people, all of whom were deemed to have a very high risk of developing psychosis.

They found those who went on to develop schizophrenia, rather than other forms of psychosis, were all unable to identify smells properly.

For instance, they thought the smell from a pizza actually came from an orange or the smell of bubblegum was actually smoke.

This problem was present before the onset of any significant clinical symptoms of psychosis.

The researchers believe their findings could lead to a new test for schizophrenia, which could in turn transform the way people with the condition are treated.