Researchers at the University of Cambridge have proven that a simple blood test is enough for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. They used a combination of online psychiatric assessments and blood tests to diagnose patients with bipolar disorder.
In an official statement, the researchers say the blood test on its own could diagnose up to 30% of patients with bipolar disorder, but that it is even more effective when combined with a digital mental health assessment.
Using biomarker testing might aid medical professionals in distinguishing between bipolar illness and major depressive disorder, which share symptoms but require distinct medications. The blood test is currently in the proof of concept stage, but according to the researchers, it has the potential to be a useful addition to current psychiatric diagnosis and to provide insight into the biological roots of mental health disorders. The results were published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
Up to 80 million people worldwide suffer from bipolar illness, which affects around 1% of the population. However, in over 40% of cases, bipolar disorder is mistakenly labelled as severe depressive disorder.
The ability to diagnose bipolar disorder with a simple blood test could ensure that patients get the right treatment the first time
Jakub Tomasik, Cambridge’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is the most efficient method of accurately diagnosing bipolar illness. However, these evaluations take time to complete, the patients sometimes have to wait a long period to receive them.
Using samples and data from the Delta project, which was carried out in the UK between 2018 and 2020, the researchers were able to diagnose individuals with bipolar disorder who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder during the preceding five years and who were now experiencing symptoms of depression.
Over 3000 individuals were enlisted, each answering over 600 questions in an online mental health evaluation. A variety of subjects that may be related to mental health issues were included in the evaluation, such as family history, substance misuse, manic symptoms, generalized anxiety, and previous or present depressive episodes.
Approximately one thousand of the individuals who finished the online test were chosen to submit a dried blood sample obtained from a straightforward finger prick. The researchers used mass spectrometry to examine this sample for more than 600 distinct metabolites. 241 people were enrolled in the study after completing the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, a completely organized and validated diagnostic instrument to establish diagnoses of mood disorders.
Data analysis revealed a strong biomarker signal for bipolar illness, even after controlling for potential confounders like medication. During the one-year follow-up phase of the study, a separate group of patients who had acquired a new clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder were evaluated to confirm the identification of the biomarkers, which were predominantly connected with lifetime manic episodes.
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Researchers discovered that the biomarker test with patient-reported data greatly enhanced bipolar disorder diagnosis results, particularly in cases where the condition was difficult to diagnose.
The online assessment was more effective overall, but the biomarker test performs well and is much faster. A combination of both approaches would be ideal, as they’re complementary. In addition to the diagnostic capabilities of biomarkers, they could also be used to identify potential drug targets for mood disorders, which could lead to better treatments. It’s an exciting time to be in this area of research.
Professor Sabine Bahn
Journal reference: Jakub Tomasik et al. ‘Metabolomic Biomarker Signatures for Bipolar and Unipolar Depression.’ JAMA Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.4096.
Source: University of Cambridge News
Report: Achuth B S
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