Soon a blood test to screen for depression and bipolar disorder?

New test to provide more accurate screening. American researchers at Indiana University are working on the blood test they promise to avoid misdiagnosing people with mood disorders. They presented their results April 8 in the journal ImmortalizePsychiatry.

26 biological markers have been identified

The blood test consists of RNA biomarkers that can characterize the severity of a patient’s depression, and the future risk of major depression and bipolar disorder. This test also allows you to distinguish which drug is most appropriate for patients. To develop it, researchers conducted a four-year study that collected 300 participants.

First, each volunteer was followed up and the researchers recorded changes in their blood biomarkers based on their moods. Using data from previous studies, they validated 26 major biomarkers found in people with severe clinical depression. These biomarkers have also been tested in other independent groups to determine their ability to predict who will be sick and who will develop disease in the future.

Daily clock effect

“Through this work, we wanted to develop blood tests for depression and bipolar disorder, differentiate the two, and align people with the right treatments.Alexander Nikulescu, professor of psychiatry at Indiana University and lead author of the study, continues. Blood biomarkers are emerging as important tools in disorders that are not always reliable in an individual’s self-report or the clinical impression of a healthcare professional. These blood tests can pave the way for an accurate and personalized match with medications and objective monitoring of response to treatment.. “

During their research, the researchers realized that mood disorders are influenced by genes in the biological clock. “This explains why some patients see their condition worsening with the seasonal changes and changes in sleep that occur in mood disorders.Alexander Nikulescu leads.