Blood test shows high accuracy in diagnosing major depression

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found that a blood test to diagnose major depression could become a useful tool after a study showed success in analyzing the levels of nine biomarkers. The test developed by Ridge Diagnostics measures the biomarkers and puts the measurements into a specific formula to produce an ‘MDDScore,’ which indicates the likelihood that a person has major depression. Combining the groups from two phases of the study showed that the test accurately diagnosed major depression with a sensitivity of about 90 percent and a specificity of 80 percent. "Traditionally, diagnosis of major depression and other mental disorders has been made based on patients' reported symptoms, but the accuracy of that process varies a great deal... Adding an objective biological test could improve diagnostic accuracy and may also help us track individual patients' response to treatment," explains George Papakostas of the MGH Department of Psychiatry, an author of the report.