Quick brain scan could screen for autism

LONDON — A 15-minute brain scan could in future be used to test for autism, helping doctors diagnose the complex condition more cheaply and accurately. 

British scientists said on Tuesday their rapid test had proved more than 90 percent accurate in adults and there was no reason why it should not work equally well in children.
It could be a boon for patients and their doctors by reducing reliance on time-consuming and emotionally trying assessments based on interviews and behavioural observation.
Autism is a complex brain disorder characterised by difficulties in social interaction and communication, ranging from mild to profound impairment.
The new scanning method — which picks up on structural changes in the brain's grey matter — could be ready for general use in a couple of years. The next goal is to test it in children.
"What we are working on now is to see if we find the same results in younger people," research leader Declan Murphy, professor of psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, said in an interview.
"We would hope that it would work just as well ... there is no reason why not."
The ability to base a diagnosis on an objective biological test, rather than having to rely on personality traits, should mean patients get treatment more quickly, he added.
Cognitive behavioural therapy and educational treatment can be highly effective for some patients and the impact of a more certain prognosis would be especially beneficial for children.
Murphy and colleagues, who published their findings in the Journal of Neuroscience, studied 20 healthy adults and another 20 individuals previously diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which also includes Asperger syndrome.
The accuracy of the scan in predicting autism was so high that the results were strongly significant, despite the small number of patients involved.
Experts not involved in the research applauded the research but cautioned further study was still needed.
"Although this method is not ready for normal diagnostic situations, any step to easier diagnosis is welcome," said Terry Brugha, professor of psychiatry at the University of Leicester.
Murphy said he envisaged that in future autism specialists would use a scan alongside interviews, in much the same way as doctors monitoring diabetes look at blood test results alongside patient histories.
The new system works by analysing variations in the shape and structure of brain regions linked to language and social behaviour, using standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines made by companies like General Electric, Siemens and Philips.
The speed of the test makes it some 20 times cheaper than traditional tests, which can take a team of doctors four to eight hours to conduct. The actual brain scan costs around 100 pounds ($157.5).
Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one percent of the population in Britain and the United States, and the condition affects four times as many boys as girls. Researchers agree there is a strong genetic component.

By Ben Hirschler

Mental health problems in college students on the rise

SAN DIEGO — Cases of mental illness among college students have become increasingly more serious over the last decade, according to a new study that backs up what mental health professionals at university counseling centers have been saying for years. 

But college life might not be the reason for the increase, they say. Part of the rise is likely due to an increase in students coming into college with pre-existing mental health issues.
"Our findings may suggest that students with severe emotional stress are getting better education, outreach and support during childhood that makes them more likely to attend college than in the past," said study researcher John Guthman, director of student counseling services at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
Also, since the findings are based on data from only one college campus, more research is needed to find out whether the results represent a more general trend. The study was presented here today at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.
University counseling Guthman and his colleagues looked at the counseling records of 3,256 undergraduate and graduate students at a private university in the northeastern United States over a 12-year period, between September 1997 and August 2009.
Participants were examined for mental disorders, their thoughts of suicide and injuring themselves, and thoughts of injuring others. The participants took part in interviews and completed two tests to assess their depression and anxiety levels.
Between 1998 and 2009, the number of students coming into counseling who were diagnosed with at least one mental disorder increased 3 percent, from 93 percent to 96 percent.
While the level of depression and anxiety among college students remained, on average, the same, the percentage diagnosed with moderate to severe depression increased from 34 percent to 41 percent, Guthman said.
Students are socially disconnected In addition to more students arriving with mental problems, the increase in severe depression and anxiety could be due to more students feeling socially disconnected, Guthman said. "The students who are seeking help are frequently socially isolated," he said.
During the study period, the number of students on psychiatric medicines also increased. In 1998, 11 percent of the participants were using psychiatric drugs, and this number rose to 24 percent in 2009.
While cases of severe depression were on the rise, the number of students experiencing suicidal thoughts declined by 15 percent, the researchers found. The decrease may result from improvements in suicide prevention education and outreach as well as more awareness of the type of assistance available, Guthman said.

By Rachael Rettner