Blood tests are becoming more advanced in the mental health world, with a new test coming out later this year to identify psychosis. Current blood tests for mental health disorders include a test for depression. This latest breakthrough helps because the range of disorders that include psychotic symptoms can be difficult to differentiate.
A recent study has found that there are biomarkers within our blood that correlate with the presentation of psychotic features! Not only this, but the top biomarkers for delusions and hallucinations differ. This allows for more precision when identifying symptoms and a potential diagnosis. In addition, it allows for develop of new pharmacological interventions and more effective treatment decisions using current medications.
The blood test looks for changes in blood gene expression for biomarkers previously tied to symptoms of psychosis. In other words, the blood test will identify genes that are related to psychosis that are “turned on”. The genes related to hallucinations and delusions are different, allowing for a greater differentiation of symptoms. Hallucinations are related to a pathway that can instigate an over-response to sensory information. On the other hand, the link between the brain pathways and how synapses form for delusions is identified.
This test requires study with a larger group of participants, but current results are promising for a future as a diagnostic tool. Additionally, results appear more accurate for women than men. With further research, this can be remedied. Despite these limitations, this tool has the ability to assist in determining diagnosis with more accuracy along with human assessment due to determining potential permanence of the delusions and hallucinations.
Blood tests for mental health diagnoses are growing in availability. The addition of a test to determine presence and severity of symptoms of psychosis, as well as the progression of those symptoms is a huge win for our field’s efforts to identify and treat psychosis more effectively. Go us!
