Blood tests can help diagnose depression

American scientists from Northwestern University in Chicago came close to creating a blood test allows you to diagnose depression. They found what chemicals are present in the blood of people who have been victims of severe mental disorder.

Diagnosis of Depression

In current clinical diagnosis of depression   carried on based on personal conversations with the patient, assess his mood and responses to specific questions. The accuracy of such a diagnosis is not too high. American scientists We conducted a small study, taking analyzes blood   adolescents, and at the same time highlighting the specific chemical substance, were present only in the blood of those who have observed the initial stage depression .

The tests were based on animal studies. Scientists were able to determine the presence of 26 markers Blood-related stress, and genetic characteristics associated with brain damage. Note that in the early onset of severe depression forecast significantly worse than if the disorder begins in adulthood age. Depression in teens affects up to 25% of people.

This is due to a mental disorder Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, the development of which can also be predicted with help blood test . In total the complexity, the researchers took the tests in 14 healthy adolescents and 14 of them Peer, who began early depression. According to the magazine Translational Psychiatry study co-author Dr. Eva thinning, chemical substances in the blood are the "neurodegenerative fingerprints" severe disorders and diseases that can occur. And as depression often precedes Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, the presence of these chemicals substances in the blood is an early warning of diseases. (READ MORE)

Psychology

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