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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 11:49:47
There is a company near where I live--Ridge Diagnostics--partnering with psychiatrists and offering a blood test that supposedly measures "10 biomarkers shown to be prevalent in most people with Major Depressive Disorder." My psychiatrist gave me the information at my last appointment. It appears to be covered by my insurance and is done at the hospital near my psychiatrist's office. The biomarkers measured are: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin, Myeloperoixidase, Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, Epidermal Growth Factor, Apolipoprotein C3, Prolactin, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. It seems worth a try to me, though the only thing I can find online about a blood test for depression is related to a couple of European studies focusing on Serotonin transporter (SERT). Don't know if any of these things that the Ridge Diagnostics test covers are related to that.
Posted by Phillipa on July 2, 2014, at 12:10:15
In reply to Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 11:49:47
Chris from what I just googled sounds like it been around for quite a while. Sounds more like used to convince a patient that they are indeed depressed. Phillipa
http://guardianlv.com/2014/01/depression-test-mddscore-blood-test-helps-diagnose-depression/
Posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 14:32:23
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test? » Chris O, posted by Phillipa on July 2, 2014, at 12:10:15
Phillipa:
Thanks for that. Nice article that I hadn't seen. My main interest would be seeing my "score" on each of the ten parameters in the test (hormones, proteins, enzymes) in relationship to what is considered "normal." Hopefully, if I decide to do the test, my psychiatrist can give me that information.
Chris
Posted by babbler20 on July 2, 2014, at 19:02:53
In reply to Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 11:49:47
Having worked for Quest Diagnostics, I can tell you a few things about the diagnostic testing business. First, the value of a test is determined by it's sensitivity and specificity. Second, many of the tests are difficult to sell to patients and doctors because they do not change the treatment. I would first ask how sensitive and specific the test is. If the sensitivity and specificity is less than 90%, it's not very useful. Also, I would ask your doctor how the outcome of the results would modify your treatment. I hope this helps.
Posted by linkadge on July 2, 2014, at 21:11:27
In reply to Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 11:49:47
The problem is that there is no biomarker (or biomarker combination) that is shown to have any degree of diagnostic predictability. At the end of the day, all they can say is depression yea or nay and lets try some antidepressants. I have kept up on most of the main research findings for depression in the last 5 years. I've only heard of a few of the biomarkers mentioned. I would certainly get your thyroid checked, but that's about it. Depression should be diagnosed based on symptoms.
Linkadge
Posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 23:57:30
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by linkadge on July 2, 2014, at 21:11:27
Linkage:
Yeah, I kind of figured as much. The literature my psychiatrist gave me for this test looks professional and scientific, but I'd only be interested in comparing my numbers on these biomarkers with people who are not considered depressed or anxious. My thyroid usually comes within normal range (though it has been low at least one time) when I do the thyroid blood test. My symptoms suck. I basically feel anxious all the time, and it's been that way my whole life. Thanks for your feedback, Link.
Chris
Posted by Chris O on July 3, 2014, at 0:01:14
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by babbler20 on July 2, 2014, at 19:02:53
Well, I don't think he would use it to modify my treatment. He gave me the literature in response to my never-ending quest to find some physically detectable cause for my symptoms. I just feel so anxiously crappy all the time that I figure there must be some observable cause of this horrible feeling. It certainly seems like the chemistry is off in a big way with me. Basically, I cannot manage my life and day to day stresses in a meaningful way. I am way too dependent on others (my wife, basically) and it is humiliating in a way that is indescribable. I'm not living my life. I'm coping, surviving, nothing more. I'm sure there is something off/deficient someplace, but who knows what it is and how to find it? Anyway, tanks for your feedback, babbler.
Chris
Posted by Beckett on July 3, 2014, at 5:48:12
In reply to Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 11:49:47
Chris, this is off topic. I'm wondering what your treatment looks like right now. Any rTMS in your future? I'm interested because your anxiety sounds somewhat close to my experience (with differences of course).
Posted by Beckett on July 3, 2014, at 5:52:29
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test? » babbler20, posted by Chris O on July 3, 2014, at 0:01:14
> Well, I don't think he would use it to modify my treatment. He gave me the literature in response to my never-ending quest to find some physically detectable cause for my symptoms. I just feel so anxiously crappy all the time that I figure there must be some observable cause of this horrible feeling. It certainly seems like the chemistry is off in a big way with me. Basically, I cannot manage my life and day to day stresses in a meaningful way. I am way too dependent on others (my wife, basically) and it is humiliating in a way that is indescribable. I'm not living my life. I'm coping, surviving, nothing more. I'm sure there is something off/deficient someplace, but who knows what it is and how to find it? Anyway, tanks for your feedback, babbler.
>
> ChrisBesides proving to patients they are ill, and to get there buy in, can some,off these results decide different treatments you could,receive? (I hope this hasn't been asked before and I forgot.)
Posted by Chris O on July 3, 2014, at 10:50:45
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Beckett on July 3, 2014, at 5:48:12
Hey, Beckett:
I'm still on my 30-40mg of Brintellix a day. It's still giving me some relief, but really not nearly enough. It's not really opening me up. It's relieving some physical symptoms (one of the ways I know it's working is that I can stretch much better; my body is normally very very tense), and I don't obsessively worry as much, but I still feel very inhibited and generally dysfunctional. It doesn't take much to send me into a panic spiral. 't I had a regular job, this drug would be worthless because when I have to function right now, it's still very difficult. I'm going to take Brintellix for a few more weeks at least because I have to go to a trade show for five days with my wife on Monday, and even though she does most of the sales (I do most of the physical labor and preparation with great difficulty and not well), it still taxes me greatly. Don't really know what I'm going to do next. The rTMS is in now installed in my psychiatrist's office, but I really have little faith in it. Before I started the Brintellix, I was going to try nortriptylene or Nardil. How are you doing?
Chris
Posted by linkadge on July 3, 2014, at 19:25:39
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test? » Beckett, posted by Chris O on July 3, 2014, at 10:50:45
The only cut and dry test that the doctor can order is thyroid. If you have low thyroid you can take thyroid.
Other markers, however, are not useful in determining course of treatment. For instance, BDNF is often low in depression. Antidepressants may normalize this, but no one antidepressant has been shown more effective at doing so.
Linkadge
Posted by Babbler20 on July 7, 2014, at 0:28:08
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test? » babbler20, posted by Chris O on July 3, 2014, at 0:01:14
I deal with the same problems. I would think if it's not going to modify the treatment then there is no point. I've tried all the medications and the only think that helped me was long-term exercise. After 16 weeks of exercising 5 times a week I started to sleep better and feel better. Google Northwestern Exercise Study for the details. I thought it was BS at first and then I tried it.
Posted by LostBoyinNC45 on July 11, 2014, at 23:34:36
In reply to Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Chris O on July 2, 2014, at 11:49:47
If this test is not FDA approved for detecting major depression, its snake oil and a waste of time and money.
Eric
Posted by Chris O on July 12, 2014, at 15:46:04
In reply to Re: Anyone ever take the MDD blood test?, posted by Babbler20 on July 7, 2014, at 0:28:08
Babbler:
I completely concur with you regarding exercise. But, as I think I said before, it's simply not enough for my bio-chemical woes. I get maybe a 10-20% symptom relief when I exercise everyday (say, 8 miles biking) for 2-3 months at a time. However, the effort it takes me to exercise is way harder than it should be. When I am on AD medication, exercise is much easier--even though I get some of the negative effects of the meds such as weight gain. It's a bit of a pickle. Anyway, no question exercise provides significant brain chemical boost.
Chris
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