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Suicide Risk May be Identified With Biomarker and Questionnaire

biomarker, suicide risk

According to research that was recently published in the Molecular Psychiatry journal new blood tests and questionnaire instruments have been developed which may help more accurately identify suicide risk through biomarkers and questionnaire answers. The combination can help predict the suicide risk with a rate that s higher than 90%, far higher than other tests. These tests can predict which individuals will start to contemplate suicide or actually attempt this step. Indiana University School of Medicine researchers developed these tools in order to provide an accurate assessment of the suicide risk. Many different types of mental disorders may involve suicidal thoughts or actions, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. IU School of Medicine professor of psychiatry and medical neuroscience Alexander B. Niculescu III, M.D., Ph.D. Explained “We believe that widespread adoption of risk prediction tests based on these findings during healthcare assessments will enable clinicians to intervene with lifestyle changes or treatments that can save lives.”

When discussing the research on the biomarker and questionnaire testing Dr. Niculescu “We now have developed a better panel of biomarkers that are predictive across several psychiatric diagnoses. Combined with the apps, we have a broader spectrum predictor for suicidality. In additional to reproducing and expanding our own previous work, we reproduce and expand other groups’ results in this burgeoning field.” The blood samples were analyzed for RNA biomarkers, and then used along with answers from newly developed questionnaires. Researchers had the ability to accurately predict the suicide risk of patients around 92% of the time.

Predicting Binge Drinking May be Possible With Biomarker Study

Rehab Articles

predicting binge drinking, biomarker

A new study by University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing researchers may have shown the path to predicting binge drinking to some degree through the use of a biomarker. The study involved a biomarker called phosphatidylethanol or Peth, and it is found in much higher amounts in individuals who are more likely to engage in binge drinking. Hopefully this discovery can lead to the ability of predicting who is at risk of binge drinking with a much higher degree of certainty than what is currently possible. According to University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing professor and biobehavioral health science department head Mariann Piano, Ph.D. “Binge drinking is pervasive on college campuses and among young adults. More alarming, though, is the regularity of binge drinking episodes: one in five students report three or more binge drinking episodes in the prior two weeks.”

Dr. Piano worked with associate professor of physical therapy and co-researcher Shane Phillips, Ph.D. during the biomarker study on predicting binge drinking. The study involved analyzing blood from the participants. Dr. Piano reported that “We discovered a significant correlation between PEth levels in both the whole blood and dried blood samples and the number of times subjects consumed four to five drinks in one sitting within the last 30 days. Using a biomarker of heavy alcohol consumption such as PEth along with self-reporting could provide an objective measure for use in research, screening and treatment of hazardous alcohol use among young adults.” Binge drinking is a pattern of excessive drinking that occurs in a relatively short period of time and causes a blood alcohol content of over 0.08.