A new blood test for anxiety has been developed by scientists at Indiana University School of Medicine. It evaluates the biomarkers that can help them determine a person′s risk for anxiety, the level of anxiety they are currently experiencing, and which therapies are most likely to be effective in treating their anxiety.

According to experts, this method was developed to find blood biomarkers that could help match people to already-existing medications that will work better and possibly be non-addictive options, as opposed to the current method where doctors consult with patients and occasionally prescribe drugs that may be addictive.

Three independent cohorts were used in the study: testing, validation, and discovery. Participants underwent a blood test every three to six months or during a new psychiatric hospitalization. Researchers were able to determine a patients present level of anxiety by looking at the RNA biomarkers in their blood and matching them with pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, demonstrating how successful various solutions could be for them based on their biology.

Also, a persons biomarkers may alter with time. The test can assess a persons likelihood of experiencing future episodes of anxiety that are more severe, as well as how other factors, such as hormone changes, may affect their anxiety.

This new test might also be used with the other blood tests his research has produced, giving patients a complete picture of their mental health and the likelihood of developing future mental health issues. Researchers can also use the test to create novel anxiety medicines that are more specifically tailored to particular biomarkers.

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/researchers-develop-blood-test-for-anxiety/1441041/)