Blood Test May Determine Risk of Psychosis

Could a blood test determine psychosis risk?

A recent study with findings published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin examines a potentially early diagnostic tool for looking at the issue.

Psychosis, which includes hallucinations or delusions that define the development of various mental issues, often develop in late adolescence and early adulthood, affecting around 1 in every 100 individuals. However, in more severe cases, it can affect younger people.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina are working on a blood test that's currently used to test psychiatric patients who are experiencing symptoms considered to be indicators of high risk psychosis, which identify those who later went on to develop the behavioral health issue.

"The blood test included a selection of 15 measures of immune and hormonal system imbalances as well as evidence of oxidative stress," said Diana O. Perkins, MD, MPH, professor of psychiatry in the UNC School of Medicine and corresponding author of the study, in a news release. She is also medical director of UNC's Outreach and Support Intervention Services (OASIS) program for schizophrenia.

"While further research is required before this blood test could be clinically available, these results provide evidence regarding the fundamental nature of schizophrenia, and point towards novel pathways that could be targets for preventative interventions," she added.

Researchers concluded that with future testing, they hope to replicate with studies of other classes of biomarkers via the potential of high value in the clinical setting.