Re: Ear can be used to diagnose certain mental illnesses

[Bryan Paton <bryan.paton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Denis Donovan wrote:
> I would suggest that the "demonstration" Kevin Austen refers to below be 
> taken with a hefty dose of lithium chloride and an even heftier dose of 
> curiosity and skepticism.

Although I am both only a PhD student and from Monash (where this 
research was developed) it might be worthwhile reviewing more than just 
a journalist's interpretation of these kinds of results. Two sensible 
starting points would be the fact sheet for the biotech startup that is 
co-developing this technique with Brian Lithgow (the Monash researcher):

http://neuraldiagnostics.com/doc/Descriptive_Snapshot_051009_website.pdf

and Brian Lithgow's pages:

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/lithgow.htm
http://www.ecse.monash.edu.au/staff/lithgow/
http://www.monash.edu.au/news/expertline/details.php?contact_id=540

As far as I understand it, based on the samples they have tested so far, 
the technique is able to reliably distinguish Parkinson's disease, 
Schizophrenia, Bi and Uni polar depression (from each other as well) and 
Meniere’s disease from healthy normals (with more work ongoing).

Granted you cannot make a full determination without access to their 
original data. However much like a duration MMN is able to reliably 
distinguish healthy normals from schizophrenia patients and that 
frequency MMN is correlated with schizophrenia illness duration:

http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/schres/article/PIIS0920996404004591/abstract

The technique described above might be one *possible* way of reliably 
(assuming the technique stands up to further testing) diagnosing some of 
the conditions listed above.

Thanks.

Bryan.

--
Bryan Paton

PhD candidate
School of Philosophy & Bioethics/Department of Medicine, Monash Medical 
Centre

Building 11, w931
Monash University
Clayton, VIC, 3800
Australia

+613 990 59166