Scientists at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago have developed the first blood test to diagnose major depression in adults. The test also predicts whether depressed individuals will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, allowing doctors to develop effective, individualized treatment plans.
The test measures the levels of nine RNA blood markers to diagnose depression. It can also reveal the biological effects of cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients who received the therapy for 18 weeks and were no longer depressed showed changes in the levels of relevant RNA markers in their blood.
Currently, depression is diagnosed using subjective analysis and is based on non-specific symptoms such as poor mood, fatigue and a change in appetite, which can also be related to a number of other health concerns.
The test is not yet ready to be marketed to healthcare professionals. First, the scientists plan to test their results in a larger population and determine whether the test can differentiate between major and bipolar depression.
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