Latest news with #diagnosis
ABC News
an hour ago
- Health
- ABC News
South Australian government to allow GPs to diagnose ADHD
Some general practitioners in South Australia will from next year be able to diagnose patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in a move the state government says will cut wait times and costs for those seeking a diagnosis. Currently, adults in South Australia seeking an ADHD diagnosis must be assessed by a psychiatrist, while children must see a paediatrician. The state government argues the existing regulations have made it "extremely difficult" to get an ADHD diagnosis due to long wait times and high costs to see a specialist. Rule changes announced by the government on Friday will allow specially trained GPs to diagnose the disorder. It will also allow GPs to prescribe ADHD medication without having to provide evidence to SA Health of a diagnosis from a psychiatrist or paediatrician. The reforms will come into effect in 2026. Health Minister Chris Picton said some patients have spent more than $2,000 for a diagnosis. "That's a huge expense for South Australians and it means that people are missing out on important healthcare that can make a difference for them," he said. Mr Picton also argued the reforms would free up "significant capacity" for psychiatrists and paediatricians to undertake other mental health work. "We know that there's significant need in the community for a whole range of other afflictions people have," he said. The reforms follow a similar move by New South Wales earlier this year. The Western Australian government has also committed to the reform. Specialist training for GPs who want to be involved in ADHD diagnoses will be made available from next year. This is on top of online training modules that are already available through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). RACGP chair Siân Goodson said not all GPs will take up the additional training. But she added that many GPs already have experience dealing with ADHD patients. "GPs are often co-managing these patients already, so we often prescribe once we've got the diagnosis is confirmed," she said. "So, we're already getting experience in managing medication and managing these people." Dr Goodson, who is also a GP in Adelaide's northern suburbs, said patients are regularly reporting ADHD symptoms to their doctor. She said early ADHD diagnosis was "really important" for children. "We see people waiting a long time for that diagnosis falling behind at school and the outcomes are less good," she said. "But also for adults, sometimes they've struggled for a long time, they've lost their job or they're not functioning at home. Mother Vaia Allen said she spent around $3,000 on getting an ADHD diagnosis for her 12-year-old daughter Pippa. The cost, Ms Allen said, did not include ongoing medication and regular GP appointments. She also needed to travel from Victoria to South Australia. Ms Allen said her daughter has been on ADHD medication for around four months and it has greatly helped her learning in school. "When we got Pip on ADHD medication, it was so helpful … in her classroom for her teacher, the students around her, and obviously for herself," she said. "It's really obvious to me that the education outcomes are so important in terms of their focus and changing their life trajectory. "She can sit there, listen and understand now." Deborah McLean, president of the South Australian Psychologists Association (SAPA), welcomed the state government's rule changes. She also expressed confidence that the training offered to GPs will be sufficient to correctly diagnose ADHD. But she cautioned that some ADHD patients will still need access to "holistic diagnosis assessment and then treatment" for concurrent conditions like depression and anxiety. "It means that we may only be treating part of the problem. "I think for a lot of people, though, this is a really positive step forward and a way to be able to access the essential services they need." The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) SA Branch also welcomed the rule changes. But the college cautioned that the government "must prioritise patient safety and quality outcomes through greater training and support for doctors treating ADHD". RANZCP SA chair Patrick Clarke, a North Adelaide psychiatrist, said he currently treats around 150 ADHD patients. "That's all I can manage, and I can't take on any more," Dr Clarke said in a statement. "So, we're glad to see the SA government doing more to expand access to ADHD care in the state for people who are missing out on help. "Giving trainee specialists more ADHD exposure will greatly increase the pool of doctors with appropriate exposure to see these patients."
Fast Company
13 hours ago
- Health
- Fast Company
Ear wax may hold the key to early Parkinson's diagnosis
An unlikely body byproduct may be able to help doctors diagnose Parkinson's Disease early. According to a new Chinese study, which was published in Analytical Chemistry, ear canal secretion, or ear wax, contain chemical compounds which can be telltale signs of Parkinson's. During the study, researchers examined ear canal secretions from 209 people. About half (108 of the participants) had Parkinson's. In their examinations, scientists were able to identify four volatile organic compounds (VOC) that were notably different in those with the disease. Those compounds, or biomarkers, were ethylbenzene, 4-ethyltoluene, pentanal, and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane. The scientists then trained an artificial intelligence olfactory (AIO) system on the biomarker data. And once training was complete, the AIO system was able to successfully determine which patients had Parkinson's and which did not. The system was accurate 94% of the time. Currently, Parkinson's is a tough disease to diagnose. According to Mayo Clinic, it requires expensive imaging, neurological tests, blood tests, genetic testing, and more. And often, a diagnosis is still often not conclusive. Likewise, treatment is a work-in-progress, with current therapies aimed at slowing progression rather than curing it. Therefore, ear wax testing could be a breakthrough first-step screening tool that's inexpensive, noninvasive, and accessible. The researchers who worked on the study say the findings are a major step in Parkinson's early detection, which currently, doesn't exist, but that more research is needed. 'This method is a small-scale single-center experiment in China,' study coauthor Hao Dong said in a press release. Hoa Dong continued, 'The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centers and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.'
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eric Dane makes new romance official on first red carpet since ALS diagnosis ... after calling off divorce
Eric Dane kept a brave smile on his face as he walked his first carpet since heartbreakingly announcing his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He shatteringly revealed in April that he had developed the a rare and incurable degenerative condition, which impairs the nervous system over time and causes the muscles to increasingly suffer from paralysis. About half of ALS patients have a life expectancy of three years after the initial onset of symptoms, though some can survive for decades. Shortly before news of his illness went public, his amicable estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart - with whom he has two daughters - dramatically called off their divorce. They have evidently not rekindled their romance, however, as it emerged this week that Eric, 52, is dating photographer and filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff, 41. Janell and Eric were glimpsed on a date this Tuesday, and by Wednesday, they went red carpet official at the premiere of his new Amazon Prime show Countdown. The pair were seen gazing lovingly into one another's eyes as they posed together for the cameras, Eric in summery white and Janell in a sleek burgundy cocktail dress. 'The two have been in an on-and-off relationship for over three years and care deeply for each other,' a source recently told Entertainment Tonight. 'Eric asked Janell to be there for him during this time, and she wanted to show up for him,' the insider explained, adding that they are 'extremely close and mean a great deal to one another' and that they enjoyed 'a beautiful day together full of laughs, lightness, and love' this Monday. While walking the red carpet for his new police procedural on Wednesday, Eric remarked: 'I feel good,' during an interview with Variety. 'It's nice to be here with everybody and see the hours and hours of work that we put into this come alive on screen,' added the Grey's Anatomy alum. His sighting comes after he responded to a query about whether he would continue his career amid his illness by bluntly replying: 'I'm going to ride this till the wheels fall off,' while speaking to E! News on Tuesday. 'It keeps me sharp. It keeps me moving forward, which is super important right now.' Eric insisted he feels 'great when I'm at work' despite losing the function of his dominant right arm in the year since he was diagnosed with ALS. 'Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks,' Dane admitted. 'But I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that's all that matters.' Audiences can next catch the SAG Award winner as Special Agent Nathan Blythe in Derek Haas' new 13-episode crime drama Countdown, which premieres June 25 on Amazon Prime Video. Eric's co-star Jensen Ackles said he brought a 'beautiful, quiet leadership' to the cast that was 'incredibly needed' in Countdown: 'That was just something that was so beneficial to the process of creating a team both on and off camera.' Dane recently reprised his role as the closeted real estate agent Cal Jacobs in the third season of HBO hit show Euphoria, which is produced by and starring Zendaya as Ruby 'Rue' Bennett. 'I've shot already,' the San Francisco-born silver fox teased. 'It's good.' Sam Levinson's drug-fueled drama will welcome newcomers Sharon Stone, Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, and Kadeem Hardison in season three. But it's unclear what the status is of Malik Vitthal's Montenegro-set wedding thriller Family Secrets, which cast Eric as the family patriarch back in 2023. And Dane famously got his big break portraying plastic surgeon Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan from 2006–2012 on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. The Bad Boys: Ride or Die action star is currently taking medication to slow the symptoms and he's also participating in a research study. 'I will fly to Germany and eat the head off a rattlesnake if [doctors] told me that that would help,' Eric told Good Morning America 's Diane Sawyer on Monday. 'I'll assume the risk.' Dane fears he will lose function of his left hand 'in a few more months' and he's also 'worried about my legs.' 'Sobering,' the father-of-two admitted. 'I'm very hopeful, yeah, I don't think this is the end of my story. I'm pretty resilient. I just don't feel, like in my heart, [that] this is the end of me.' On average, ALS patients live two to five years following their first symptoms, but FDA-approved medications and physical/speech therapies might slow down the progression of the disorder.
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
Why Autism Diagnoses Are Increasing: What Changed In 2013
Changes in diagnostic criteria drove an increase in autism diagnoses. Autism has been in the spotlight as more public figures react to rising diagnosis rates. Some frame it as an epidemic, prompting speculation about causes. But what many don't realize is that much of the increase can be traced to two major changes in how autism is diagnosed. Starting in 2013, people already diagnosed with ADHD could now also be diagnosed with autism, something that was not allowed previously. Further, doctors were now encouraged to consider a person's internal distress, not just observable externals, when determining whether their autistic experience qualified for diagnosis. These two changes account for a significant portion of the increase in autism diagnoses. To receive a mental health diagnosis, a person must show evidence of impairment. For autism, this means behaviors associated with a differently wired brain must cause real life challenges--not just exist. But how do we define impairment? During my medical training, that was a determination for the professionals to make. These standards were defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, the manual doctors used to determine mental health diagnoses. Originally published in 1994, the DSM-IV defined a mental disorder as causing 'clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.' In the DSM-IV, impairment was assessed by external signs such as poor grades, job loss, or visible dysfunction. Internal distress, like working twice as hard as other just to keep up, was not considered. It was left to the doctor to determine what elements of a patient's story were 'clinically significant' and whether they were in 'important' areas of functioning. If someone had autistic features but excelled in school or work and had relationships, they might be told they weren't impaired and did not meet criteria for a diagnosis. Their internal experience--how hard things felt or the emotional toll it took--wasn't relevant. That changed in 2013 with the publication of the DSM-V, which heralded a critical shift in psychiatry: valuing a patient's internal experiences over mere appearances. While the fundamental definition of mental disorder remained the same, the DSM-V considered a person's internal suffering when evaluating them for clinically significant distress. For example, in the past a student would have to be failing classes to be considered impaired. But after DSM-V, a student getting As only through intense effort and personal cost--exhaustion, anxiety, and emotional burnout--could also be understood as experiencing impairment. This change meant that people who previously would have been dismissed now had their experiences validated. Jaimie Goralnick, MD, a child and adult psychiatrist in California recalls what it was like to consider autism prior to 2013. 'In my training, I was taught only to notice the people who fit a stereotypical image of what we think autism is, and that is only a small percentage of people who are autistic.' Today, fewer people are denied a diagnosis because they make eye contact or have friends. Clinicians are learning to ask deeper questions: Is that eye contact forced and exhausting? Have they faced lifelong bullying or exclusion, even though they also have friendships? This has been particularly important in recognizing women with autism, who often present more subtly. The second major change in DSM-V was the removal of the exclusion rule that prevented someone from being diagnosed with both ADHD and autism. Before 2013, meeting criteria for one ruled out the other. Since ADHD symptoms are often more visible, this led to many people's autism being missed. 'In my practice, there are many people who have been diagnosed with ADHD, and later realized they also are autistic,' says Dr. Goralnick. 'It's been life changing for them to be able to make sense of their experience in a clearer and more positive way." Currently, the scientific literature estimates that between 50 to 70% of people with autism also have ADHD. (Hours 2022) The reverse is harder to measure due to under-diagnosis, but studies have found that between 30 to 65% of children with ADHD also show clinically significant autistic traits. (Clark 1999, Ronald 2008, Sokolova 2017). This means that a significant number of people with ADHD are now also diagnosed with autism, leading to an apparent boost in autism numbers. With autism in the press so often lately, it is important to understand that while diagnosis rates have risen, autism itself has always been with us. The 2013 changes in the DSM allowed us to get better at recognizing it. And that's vital, because it gives people a chance to understand themselves, heal from rejections they've faced, connect with the autistic community and access therapies designed for autism. "Many of my patients are able to figure out ways to fit in and fly under the radar with some of their challenges,' Dr. Goralnick. 'They struggle a lot with depression and severe anxiety that just never quite responded to treatments, and there were a lot of things that just never made sense. But once we together realized they were autistic, the pieces came together and we began to understand their experience.' Autism wasn't invisible because it wasn't there. It was invisible because we weren't looking for it in the right way.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Breakthrough blood test detects cancer years before symptoms appear
Scientists have developed a 'highly sensitive' blood test that could detect signs of cancerous tumours years before the first symptoms appear, an advance that could lead to better treatment outcomes for patients. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University in the US found that genetic material shed by tumours can be detected in the bloodstream much before patients get their first diagnosis. The study, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, found that these genetic mutations caused by cancer, can be detected in the blood over three years in advance for some patients. 'Three years earlier provides time for intervention. The tumours are likely to be much less advanced and more likely to be curable,' said study co-author Yuxuan Wang. In the research, scientists assessed blood plasma samples collected from participants of a large NIH-funded study to investigate risk factors for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. Researchers developed highly accurate and sensitive genome sequencing techniques to analyse blood samples from 52 of the earlier study's participants. Twenty-six of the participants were diagnosed with cancer within six months after sample collection, and 26 who were not diagnosed served as the control group for comparison. Eight of the 52 participants scored positively in a multicancer early detection (MCED) laboratory test conducted at the time their blood samples were taken. The MCED test is designed to detect multiple cancers in their early stages from a single blood sample by analysing cancer-signature molecules in the blood, including DNA and proteins. All eight were diagnosed with cancer within four months following blood collection. For six of these 8 participants, additional blood samples were collected about 3 to 3.5 years before cancer diagnosis. In four of these cases, mutations linked to tumour growth could be identified in their earlier blood samples. The findings point to 'the promise of MCED tests in detecting cancers very early', researchers say. It may lead to more standardised blood tests to screen people either annually or every two years, which could boost early detection and prevent cancers from becoming treatment-resistant tumours. 'These results demonstrate that it is possible to detect circulating tumour DNA more than three years prior to clinical diagnosis, and provide benchmark sensitivities required for this purpose,' scientists wrote. 'Detecting cancers years before their clinical diagnosis could help provide management with a more favourable outcome,' said Nickolas Papadopoulos, another author of the study. Scientists hope the findings can be validated in a larger-scale trial involving more participants.
