Scientists have claimed that it is possible to detect the signs of depression using a blood test, despite many believing it is impossible.
The claim comes from researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, who have found a close relationship between a brain network implicated in depression and levels of serotonin in the bloodstream (Scharinger et al., 2014).
The study’s lead author, Lukas Pezawas said:
“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.
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.”
