Can Blood Tests Detect Mental Health
In mental health, usually diagnosis of any illness is decided by clinical features.
There are no established investigation for diagnosis of mental disorders.
Investigations are only supposed to be supportive. But now there seems some hope in this regard.
Researchers at Harvard University have created the first-ever blood test to diagnose mental illness.
It is still in its early stages, but could become available to the public within just a few years, revolutionizing the way we diagnose and treat many common mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety.
It works by detecting abnormal levels of various biomarkers in the blood, allowing physicians or neuro-psychiatrists to make an accurate diagnosis based on these tests alone, no lengthy or expensive evaluations necessary.
Now come to main mental illnesses one by one.
People with depression have lower levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which is used to make energy in our bodies.
The scientists found that, people who had been diagnosed with depression and were given anti-depressants to increase their NAD, their symptoms improved significantly and they were able to think more clearly.
With further research, it may be possible to predict whether someone will develop a mental illness based on their blood test results.
People who suffer from anxiety are often aware of it, and it is not uncommon for them to turn to therapy or medication in an attempt to overcome it.
However, a new study suggests that there may be another option on that list.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found a way to diagnose anxiety disorders with the help of a simple blood test.
This can help doctors immediately determine if they should recommend therapy or refer their patient to psychiatry for further treatment.
The researchers hope that in time, a similar test will be developed for other mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
We think that would be amazing, we certainly know people with those disorders who could benefit from early diagnosis.
For more details please visit at www.nirajhealth.com
Originally published at https://www.nirajhealth.com on February 4, 2023.
