Post by beebs on Feb 9, 2012 17:00:26 GMT -5
Slippery path of molecular psychiatry.
See the article below comments, describes some biomarkers for diagnosis of depression.
I read up on some of those biomarkers, but not the other four for the study.
Highly suspicious that high inflammatory markers are being included here. By the time those biomarkers show disease process, its fairly advanced, and many of those diseases include confusion, low moods, agitation and so forth.
Neuropsychopoly expanding their arsenal of psychotropics instead of researching on how to prevent deterioration of those illnesses, and on prevention.
Noted 3 authors of this paper holds financial affiliation to Ridge Diagnostics - funded and developed the test for these studies.
Some of those biomarkers:
Apolipoprotein CIII - this is usually up if you suffer from hypertriglyceridemia,
leading to atherosclerosis=heart disease
α1-antitrypsin - protein most assocaited with liver, and lungs.
Cortisol (link with ACTH) can alter moods, but then so can hypo/hyperglcemia
which alters cortisol and insulin level.
Apolipoprotein CIII, associated with cardiac risks
Epidermal growth factor: most associated with gastric, bile, ...
Blood Test May Accurately Determine Depression Status
Deborah Brauser
.............Blood samples were collected from all participants, and levels of 9 serum-based biomarkers were measured. The biomarkers that were assessed included α1-antitrypsin, cortisol, apolipoprotein CIII, and epidermal growth factor. The biomarkers that were selected represented 4 biochemical domains: inflammation, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotrogenesis, and metabolism.
"Individual assay values were combined mathematically to yield an MDDScore. A 'positive' test...was defined as an MDDScore of 50 or greater," report the investigators.
Results from the pilot study showed that 33 of the patients with MDD had a positive score test compared with 8 of the nondepressed participants. The sensitivity and specificity of the test was 91.7% and 81.3%, respectively, in differentiating between the 2 groups.
In the replication study, 31 of the 34 patients with MDD had positive scores, and the test showed a sensitivity and specificity of 91.1% and 81%.
Study limitations that were cited included the small number of nondepressed healthy control participants, which disallowed matching the MDD patients in terms of age, gender, and BMI.
The investigators note that further research is needed to confirm the test's performance across these variables, as well as across different ethnic groups and in various clinical settings.
Cont/.. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758317?sssdmh=dm1.757229&src=nldne