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| New blood test targets depression | New blood test targets depression |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| UK scientists have developed a blood test to help doctors pick the best drug for patients with depression. | UK scientists have developed a blood test to help doctors pick the best drug for patients with depression. |
| Medics currently have to rely on trial and error, meaning around half of the time the first type of antidepressant given fails to work. | Medics currently have to rely on trial and error, meaning around half of the time the first type of antidepressant given fails to work. |
| The researchers from King's College London say checking a patient's blood could help identify accurate treatment. | The researchers from King's College London say checking a patient's blood could help identify accurate treatment. |
| Those who test positive for inflammation need more aggressive therapy from the outset, they say. | Those who test positive for inflammation need more aggressive therapy from the outset, they say. |
| So far the researchers have tried out their blood test on a small number of volunteers - 140 people with depression. | So far the researchers have tried out their blood test on a small number of volunteers - 140 people with depression. |
| They say they will need to do a large trial to check how well it might work in the real world. | They say they will need to do a large trial to check how well it might work in the real world. |
| The blood test, described in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, is the culmination of years of investigation. | The blood test, described in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, is the culmination of years of investigation. |
| It looks for two specific markers of inflammation - a compound called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and another called interleukin-1beta. | It looks for two specific markers of inflammation - a compound called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and another called interleukin-1beta. |
| In the study, patients with high levels of these markers were unlikely to respond to conventional, commonly prescribed SSRI and tricyclic antidepressants. | In the study, patients with high levels of these markers were unlikely to respond to conventional, commonly prescribed SSRI and tricyclic antidepressants. |
| Lead researcher Prof Carmine Pariante said this knowledge could help tailor treatment to the individual. | Lead researcher Prof Carmine Pariante said this knowledge could help tailor treatment to the individual. |
| "About a third of patients might have these inflammatory markers and they would be people we might encourage to go on more aggressive treatment." | "About a third of patients might have these inflammatory markers and they would be people we might encourage to go on more aggressive treatment." |
| Antidepressants are safe but they can have side effects. | Antidepressants are safe but they can have side effects. |
| Prof Pariante said: "We would not want to go in prescribing too much medicine if it's not necessary, but we would want to escalate people sooner rather than later if they need it." | Prof Pariante said: "We would not want to go in prescribing too much medicine if it's not necessary, but we would want to escalate people sooner rather than later if they need it." |
| He suspects the inflammation is the body's response to stress, but, paradoxically, it gets in the way of drug treatment. | He suspects the inflammation is the body's response to stress, but, paradoxically, it gets in the way of drug treatment. |
| High levels of inflammation can interfere with the same biological processes that are crucial for antidepressants to work. | High levels of inflammation can interfere with the same biological processes that are crucial for antidepressants to work. |
| Prof Pariante and his team are looking to test whether giving anti-inflammatory drugs alongside antidepressants might help. | Prof Pariante and his team are looking to test whether giving anti-inflammatory drugs alongside antidepressants might help. |
| But he cautioned: "Patients should not change their medication on their own or take an anti-inflammatory without guidance from their doctor." | But he cautioned: "Patients should not change their medication on their own or take an anti-inflammatory without guidance from their doctor." |
| Experts also point out that medication is not the only answer when it comes to managing depression. | Experts also point out that medication is not the only answer when it comes to managing depression. |
| Stephen Buckley from the mental health charity Mind said: "Different people will find that different treatments help to manage their mental health - what is most important is that people have the knowledge needed to access the treatment that works for them, whether this is medication, or alternatives such as talking therapies, or a mixture of both." | Stephen Buckley from the mental health charity Mind said: "Different people will find that different treatments help to manage their mental health - what is most important is that people have the knowledge needed to access the treatment that works for them, whether this is medication, or alternatives such as talking therapies, or a mixture of both." |
| Marjorie Wallace from the mental health charity SANE said: "Being able to target those people with depression who don't respond to medication would be one of the most exciting steps forward in the treatment of mental illness for decades." | |
| Treating depression | Treating depression |
| There are a number of things you can do yourself to help improve your mood | There are a number of things you can do yourself to help improve your mood |
| Doctors recommend people with depression try to keep active and busy, both physically and socially | Doctors recommend people with depression try to keep active and busy, both physically and socially |
| Self-help groups may also be useful to share experiences and meet people who are going through the same thing | Self-help groups may also be useful to share experiences and meet people who are going through the same thing |
| While medication may also help, guidelines for the NHS say other therapies should be offered alongside antidepressants | While medication may also help, guidelines for the NHS say other therapies should be offered alongside antidepressants |
| These therapies include cognitive behavioural therapy (to combat negative thoughts) and mindfulness training (to focus on appreciating the here and now). | These therapies include cognitive behavioural therapy (to combat negative thoughts) and mindfulness training (to focus on appreciating the here and now). |
| Mood self-assessment: Could I be depressed? | Mood self-assessment: Could I be depressed? |
| Follow Michelle on Twitter | Follow Michelle on Twitter |