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Scientists from Indiana University School of Medicine report a new a blood test that can predict a patient’s state of anxiety and their future risk. The test, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, is now being developed by an Indiana-based start-up company.
Diagnosing anxiety disorders
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease study reported that an estimated 792 million people are living with a mental health disorder globally. Approximately 284 million are experiencing an anxiety disorder, an umbrella term that comprises conditions such as phobic, social, obsessive compulsive (OCD), post-traumatic disorder or generalized anxiety disorders. “Many people are suffering from anxiety, which can be very disabling and interfere with daily life,” says Alexander Niculescu, professor of psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine and senior author of the new study.
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Niculescu’s team previously developed tests for the diagnosis of pain, depression, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorder using blood-based biomarkers. The tests were developed using a four-step approach: 1) explore blood RNA changes in patient cohorts vs healthy individuals, 2) prioritize candidate biomarkers for further exploration, 3) validate the biomarkers and 4) test the biomarkers for clinical utility.