Scientists find new disease: motivational deficiency disorder

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7544.745-a

BMJ 2006;332:745 (1 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7544.745-a

News

Scientists find new disease: motivational deficiency disorder

Ray Moynihan

Sydney

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Extreme laziness may have a medical basis, say a group of highprofile Australian scientists, describing a new condition calledmotivational deficiency disorder (MoDeD).

The condition is claimed to affect up to one in five Australiansand is characterised by overwhelming and debilitating apathy.Neuroscientists at the University of Newcastle in Australiasay that in severe cases motivational deficiency disorder canbe fatal, because the condition reduces the motivation to breathe.

Neurologist Leth Argos is part of the team that has identifiedthe disorder, which can be diagnosed using a combination ofpositron emission tomography and low scores on a motivationrating scale, previously validated in elite athletes. "Thisdisorder is poorly understood," Professor Argos told the BMJ."It is underdiagnosed and undertreated."

Professor Argos is an adviser to a small Australian biotechnologycompany, Healthtec, which is currently concluding phase II trialsof indolebant, a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist. Although. . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Paccaud, F. (2007). Implausible diseases and public health. Eur J Public Health 17: 410-410 [Full text]
Atkins, D. (2006). New disease: motivational deficiency disorder: study ignores economic benefits.. BMJ 332: 916-916 [Full text]
Cliff, J. L (2006). New disease: motivational deficiency disorder: too much effort.. BMJ 332: 916-916 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

It always pays to look at the date!: Gerry Waldron
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
April fool?: Paddy ONeill
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
Epidemic in Gateshead: Peter W Ward
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
April fool?: Tim Marshall
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
The chronically unsuccessful: Margaret Allen
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
Too much effort: John L Cliff
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
Scientists must wait for authentication: Rajan TD
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
Ignores economic benefits: David Atkins
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
It's true: Graham Luxton
bmj.com, 31 Mar 2006 [Full text]
MoDeD - not new but rediscovered.: Stephen Head
bmj.com, 1 Apr 2006 [Full text]
Gender and Cross cultural analysis needed: Mary E Black
bmj.com, 1 Apr 2006 [Full text]
April 1st.: Vincent P Edwards
bmj.com, 1 Apr 2006 [Full text]
April Fool- Can I be bovvered?: Elizabeth Sleight
bmj.com, 3 Apr 2006 [Full text]
Apathy rules OK: Alan J O'Rourke
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2006 [Full text]