Comments on: Fatal Familial Insomnia: No Sleep And Then You Die

By: Kerry Friesen, M.D.

Kerry Friesen, M.D. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:06:51 +0000

Thanks for the kind words Dr Power.

FFI is characterized by a dual mutation resulting in the production of the insoluble prion protein PrPsc. Because of the inevitable plaque formation deep in the thalamus, I am not certain that hypnotherapy would have a lasting effect. Gene therapy is promising but like all therapies various other modalities will most likely be required to augment its effectiveness.

I can only hope that the day arrives when the effectiveness of hypnotherapy combined with gene therapy could be tested.

Thanks again. Hypnotherapy is clearly effective in cases of chronic persistent insomnia and is a therapy I recommend to my patients.

kindest regards,

Kerry D. Friesen, M.D.

By: Dr Andrew Power - Hypnosis Melbourne

Dr Andrew Power - Hypnosis Melbourne — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:32:38 +0000

Hi Kerry, Just wanted to say thankyou for taking the time to bring this issue to light, it is people like you that help work toward a brighter future.

Stephanie: There has been alot of research into alternate state of consciousness that become accessible through the deeper (below somnabulism/esdaile states) where physical conditions can be improved with the assistance of the subconscious. From what I know, there has been no research conducted with FFI and hypnotherapeutic intervention (correct me if i’m wrong or you know otherwise.. FFI is reasonably new having been discovered some 35yrs or so), however research is currently investigating other disorders and as most probably are currently aware, hypnotherapy does work beautifully with general insomnia.

RLS has had some research completed with regard to hypnotherapeutic assistance with varying result. Unfortunately I dont have any research data I can share at this moment.

Thanks,
Dr Andrew Power
Australian Centre of Hypnosis

Dr Andrew Power – Hypnosis Melbourne’s last blog post..I’ll See You In Health! Stephen Colbert Rebuts Ridiculous Crestor Claim

By: Kerry Friesen, M.D.

Kerry Friesen, M.D. — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:32:04 +0000

Hi Rick,
Guess what? It’s not just the UK that’s worried about CJD.
My scariest experience in medical school was the first autopsy I participated in——-a CJD patient..my life changed at that moment.
I anticipate many sleepless night for many people!
Thanks for your insightful comments!
Come back!

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:09:21 +0000

In the UK we’re still waiting for an epidemic of vCJD, so I be thats causing a lot of sleepless nights!

By: Kelsie @ Binaural Beats Guide

Kelsie @ Binaural Beats Guide — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:58:59 +0000

Just browsing through your website since Im New to it. This was a very interesting post, kinda scary. I feel very bad for those people who have FFI since there is nothing doctors can do.

By: mercola

mercola — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:29:46 +0000

Great read. Are there any early symptoms?

By: Max_1

Max_1 — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:26:28 +0000

Hi – just wanted to say good design and blog – cu

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:27:12 +0000

Loved the article, very interesting. Are there any theories as to why “mid-life” is when the bit is flipped?

By: pj

pj — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:42:19 +0000

WOW i heard of this when I was very young on a show back in the 90′s. I was scared of this as soon as i heard of it, i’ve been having difficulty sleeping with insomnia for a few months now, but i also suffer from depression and anxiety, how im i sure that i don’t have this?? god that would be terrible.

By: Kerry Friesen, M.D.

Kerry Friesen, M.D. — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:42:22 +0000

Peter, insomnia is a general medical term for “difficulty falling and staying asleep”. There are many other sleep disorders, none of them fatal, but all of them affect the duration or quality of sleep. You are asking about quality of sleep. Some people get by just fine with erratic sleep habits — if the quality of their sleep is high. Deep sleep is characterized by delta waves, whereas, theta waves are prominent in the “pre-sleep” state and “day-dreaming”. So yes you are right. Thanks for the comment.