Evidence indicates that it is possible to use blood tests to diagnose mental illnesses

Apr 30, 2014 11:27 GMT  ·  By
Researchers say it will one day be possible to diagnose depression with the help of a simple blood test
   Researchers say it will one day be possible to diagnose depression with the help of a simple blood test

A team of scientists working with MedUni Vienna claim that it is possible to use a simple blood tests to diagnose various mental illnesses. Besides, the researchers say that it will probably not be long until one such test becomes a valuable tool for diagnosing depression.

In a paper published in a recent issue of the scientific journal PLOS ONE, the scientists explain that it all boils down to monitoring both specific proteins that sit in cell membranes, and a neurotrasmitter whom some like to call the feel good chemical.

The proteins in question are known to the scientific community as serotonin transporters. This is due to the fact that, as shown by previous studies, they facilitate the transport of a neurotransmitter dubbed serotonin, otherwise known as the happiness hormone, into the cell.

The MedUni Vienna specialists explain that serotonin transporters present in the brain regulate neural depression networks. Since a lack of serotonin often goes hand in hand with depressive conditions, major antidepressant drugs are designed in such ways that they also influence serotonin transporters.

Interestingly enough, serotonin transporters also occur in several other organs, intestines and blood included. Evidence indicates that, in the blood, the proteins work much like they do when in the brain. Specifically, they help make sure that blood plasma contains an optimal concentration of serotonin.

In their report in the journal PLOS ONE, the MedUni Vienna specialists who worked on this research project explain that, according to their investigations into the matter at hand, there is a link between the speed of the serotonin uptake in blood platelets, as dictated by serotonin transporters, and the function of a depression network in the brain.

This network has been documented to be primarily active during rest, and suppressed while individuals are carrying out complex thought processes. However, in the case of people suffering from depression, the network cannot be silenced all that easily, and this leads to poor concentration and negative thoughts.

Now that the behavior of this depression network has been shown to be in a close relationship with how blood platelets deal with the happiness hormone serotonin, researchers claim that, by keeping tabs on the latter of these two parameters, it might be possible to draw conclusions concerning the former.

“This is the first study that has been able to predict the activity of a major depression network in the brain using a blood test,” says study leader Lukas Pezawas from the Department of Biological Psychiatry at the University Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy within the MedUni Vienna.

“While blood tests for mental illnesses have until recently been regarded as impossible, this study clearly shows that a blood test is possible in principle for diagnosing depression and could become reality in the not too distant future,” he adds.