Blood Test for Depression

Blood Test for Depression

Blood Test for Depression

Depression and Human Growth Hormone

Serotonin transporter (SERT) is a protein in the cell membrane that facilitates the transport of the neurotransmitter serotonin – levels of which associate with mood, into the cell. Depression can frequently be caused by a lack of serotonin. Christian Scharinger, from MedUni Vienna (Austria), and colleagues have devised a blood test to detect depression.

Blood Test for Depression

Specifically, the test measures the speed of the serotonin uptake in blood platelets and the function of a depression network in the brain, known as the “default mode network.”  Observing an “important role of neuronal [serotonin] reuptake in [default mode network] regulation,” the study authors are hopeful that “a blood test is possible in principle for diagnosing depression and could become reality in the not too distant future.”

If you are planning to see your doctor about depression, here is information about the kinds of tests your doctor might order. First, keep in mind that not every test is a “depression test.” Some tests aren’t used to diagnose clinical depression but rather to rule out other serious medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

In most cases, the doctor will do a physical exam and ask for specific lab tests to make sure your depression symptoms aren’t related to a condition such as thyroid disease, vitamin D deficiency, or another medical problem. If your symptoms are related to another serious illness, treating that illness may also help ease the depression.

Diagnosing Depression and the Physical Exam
Again, the goal with a physical exam is usually to rule out another medical cause for depression. When performing the physical exam, the doctor may focus primarily on the neurological and endocrine systems. The doctor will try to identify any major health concerns that may be contributing to symptoms of clinical depression. For example, hypothyroidism — caused by an underactive thyroid gland — is the most common medical condition associated with depressive symptoms. Other endocrine disorders associated with depression include hyperthyroidism — caused by an overactive thyroid — and Cushing’s disease — a disorder of the adrenal gland.