Blood test can instantly diagnose depression

May 31, 2011 by Deborah Braconnier in Psychology & Psychiatry report

(Medical Xpress) -- Backed by the medical research group Human Metabolome Technologies (HMT), researchers at Keio University have developed a test which measures the concentration of phosphoric acid in the blood as an indicator of depression.

In a previous study, HMT made the connection between phosphoric acid and depression and found that those patients with depression have lower concentrations of ethanolamine phosphate. Researchers are able to use the blood test to diagnose patients with depression and have an 82 percent success rate.

Researchers presented the at the Japanese Society of Biological Psychiatry in Tokyo. They hope to make the new test available to physicians within the next two years.

This is not the first blood test created for the diagnosis of depression and there are many others under development. However, most of these other tests look at white blood cell DNA and are very time-consuming. HMT is currently developing a that will be able to determine the level of ethanolamine phosphate in only minutes.

© 2010 PhysOrg.com

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Dr_Mabuse
May 31, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
I do not believe in this.
What is rthe sensitivity and the specificy of this test ?
Does it discriminate between different types of depression, e.g. neurotic or endogennous or psychoorganic or posttraumatic type ?
Or does one just want to sell a new kit for the General Physician ?
Dr.Mabuse
jbg
May 31, 2011

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Regardless of whether you've got a machine that can read chemicals or ethanolamine phosphate levels that you can sell to the General, it doesn't change the fact that these chemical levels and these ethanolamine phosphate levels were read or taken when the person was a bit depressed, but the next day the person got some good news and the things that were depressing them changed for the better and the levels returned to normal, unfortunately the drug the crap out of them doctor had added some ethanolamine phosphate a day or two earlier,and now the person has gone ratty because his ethanolamine phosphate levels are way too high, or chemical b was too low, same bloke different haircut, and inst it funny how it was information that got their levels back to normal, think ill leave it there and see what that does to your thinking.
Ramael
May 31, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
We don't have souls, makes sense to me that the phenomenon manifests chemically. There are a number of health related phenomenon that indicate depression is more than just behavioural.
jbg
Jun 01, 2011

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I didn't know we didn't have souls, so does that mean we can poison them does it, beauty,gung ho! Who's got the needle ?
hush1
Jun 01, 2011

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
Ah.
.1)I pass.
.2)I refuse to comment about this.
.3)Place peer reviewed published research paper on my desk.
.4)Take two aspirin.
.5)Drink plenty of water.
.6)Stop speculating. No preemptive opinions.
.7)Call me back in 7 days. Remember 7, associated with luck.
Rank 4.3 /5 (6 votes)
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