Blood test could predict risk of suicide

The Washington Post

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new diagnostic tool that could help identify individuals with a particular vulnerability to the effects of stress and anxiety. A simple blood test shows whether a gene has been chemically damaged so that it no longer “shuts off” the brain’s response to naturally occurring stress hormones. The researchers found some indication that identifying this biomarker might help predict whether a person has an elevated risk of suicidality. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, vice president of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, welcomed the study as part of a growing body of genetic research that can help improve assessment. She emphasized that doctors will always need to consider many factors to determine an individual patient’s suicide risk level. By comparison, she said, “You wouldn’t just look at one cholesterol level, you would look at diet, family history, and what they ate that day. It’s an important step on the right path.”

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