Core Concepts
Blood test biomarkers accurately identify bipolar disorder misdiagnoses.
Abstract
The study focused on a blood test's ability to identify patients with bipolar disorder who were previously misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder. The methodology involved analyzing biomarkers in participants who had been diagnosed with MDD but actually had BD. The study used a panel of 17 biomarkers to correctly identify patients with BD, showing promising results for improved diagnosis accuracy.
TOPLINE:
- Blood test identifies bipolar disorder in patients misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder.
- Test can identify up to 30% of patients with BD.
- Combining the test with a psychometric assessment enhances effectiveness.
METHODOLOGY:
- Study aimed to identify biomarkers for accurate BD diagnosis.
- Participants completed questionnaires and provided blood samples for analysis.
- Biomarkers correlated with manic symptoms and validated in a separate group.
TAKEAWAY:
- Panel of 17 biomarkers correctly identified BD in previously misdiagnosed patients.
- Biomarkers correlated with lifetime manic symptoms.
- Combining biomarkers with patient-reported data improved diagnostic models.
IN PRACTICE:
- Biomarkers add value in scenarios with unavailable psychiatric symptom data.
- Particularly beneficial for patients with uncertain diagnoses.
SOURCE:
- Study led by Jakub Tomasik, PhD, published in JAMA Psychiatry.
- Study funded by Stanley Medical Research Institute and Psyomics.
LIMITATIONS:
- Missing data on confounding factors like diet and blood pressure.
- Sample mostly comprised White internet users, not fully representative.
DISCLOSURES:
- Tomasik has a patent pending for DBS blood biomarkers.
- Other disclosures noted in the original article.
Stats
The identified biomarker panel provided a mean cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.71 (P < .001).
Combining biomarker readouts with patient-reported data significantly improved the performance of diagnostic models (P = .03 for all).
Quotes
"The added value of biomarkers was particularly evident in scenarios where data on psychiatric symptoms were unavailable and at intermediate diagnostic thresholds, suggesting that biomarker tests may especially benefit patients who do not report their symptoms and whose diagnoses are uncertain." - Authors