Toward a Blood Test for Mood Disorders

A team led by Alexander B. Niculescu III, M.D., Ph.D., of Indiana University School of Medicine reported that it has demonstrated how biomarkers in the blood might be able to measure the presence or absence, and even the intensity, of mood disorders, including bipolar disorder. This advance, while preliminary, is encouraging for those who eagerly await the development of reliable tests for rapid, positive diagnosis of mental illness. Such tests, if perfected, would be a boon to patients, permitting early diagnosis, and a powerful means of overcoming stigma. The biomarkers found by Dr. Niculescu are present in differing amounts in individuals suffering from high or low mood states. Although much research must be performed before such relationships can be quantified and validated, the results reported indicate a path forward for this important work. Press release: http://www.narsad.org/news/press/rg_2008/res2008-03-05.html