14 DAY TRIAL // A team of investigators from the United Kingdom recently conducted a small study on the efficiency of depression treatments, and determined that simple blood tests could potentially be very useful.
They say that certain biomarkers in the blood stream could be used as indicators on what type of medication or therapy could be most appropriate for individual patients, PsychCentral reports.
According to statistics, doctors currently prescribe various types of antidepressants to their patients on a trial-and-error basis. That means the person takes one type of drug, the physician assesses their reaction, and the medication is then changed, as needed.
By using a specialized blood test, doctors will be able to provide their patients with the best possible courses of treatment for their particular types of depression.