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It's often difficult for doctors to tell the difference between depression and schizophrenia, especially early on. Both disorders can display symptoms like social withdrawal, emotional blunting, low energy and concentration problems, but schizophrenia may also include delusions, hallucinations and disorganised speech and/or behaviour.
But now researchers say they're on the trail of a blood test that might be able to do just that.
This could be especially helpful in a country like South Africa where, according to a South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) article, 20% of the
population will develop a depressive disorder during the
course of their lives, and nearly two thirds do not get the
help they require.
Physiological test for mental illness
"This is the first objective, physiological marker for two major psychiatric disorders that, once fully developed into a clinical test, can allow for earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and selection of more appropriate medications for patients," study co-author Dr Handan Gunduz-Bruce said in a news release from The Physiological Society.
The study was published in the journal Experimental Physiology. Gunduz-Bruce is a schizophrenia researcher at the Yale School of Medicine.
Earlier intervention
"Symptoms may not be as clear and the patient may not exhibit all symptoms of the disease," Krakower added. He believes an early diagnostic test "may help us one day quickly diagnose complex cases and offer earlier intervention for our patients".
According to the Yale team, animal research had already shown that the release of a hormone called arginine-vasopressin (AVP) relies on a cellular process known as NMDA receptor signalling.
NMDA is a brain cell receptor for glutamate – a chemical that delivers messages between brain cells and may play a role in depression.
NMDA receptor signalling appears to be increased in people with depression but reduced in those with schizophrenia, the study authors explained.
For the study, the research team gave volunteers a highly concentrated salt solution. This solution is designed to trigger the release of AVP. The researchers then tested each patient's blood for AVP.
Depressed patients release more AVP
The researchers found that AVP release among those with depression was different from those with schizophrenia. Depressed patients had a greater release of the hormone, while people with schizophrenia had a decreased production.
According to the researchers, the findings could lead to a test that might help identify certain forms of depression and schizophrenia.
Since the two conditions often have vague and mild symptoms early on, such a test might enable patients to be diagnosed sooner and receive more appropriate treatment, the researchers said.
Still, that day may be a long way off – the researchers said they haven't yet developed a test that could be used outside of their lab.
Dr Ami Baxi directs inpatient psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She agreed with Krakower that "although this method will not capture everybody with depression or schizophrenia, it is a step towards earlier and more accurate diagnosis with potential for targeted treatment options".
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