COULD A BLOOD TEST PREDICT SUICIDE RISK?
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYrightOriginal Study
Posted by Lauren Nelson-Johns Hopkins on July 31, 2014
A simple blood test may be a reliable way to screen people for suicide risk. The test looks for changes in a gene that helps the brain manage stress and control impulsive behavior.
"Suicide is a major preventable public health problem, but we have been stymied in our prevention efforts because we have no consistent way to predict those who are at increased risk of killing themselves," says Zachary Kaminsky, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
"With a test like ours, we may be able to stem suicide rates by identifying those people and intervening early enough to head off a catastrophe."
http://www.futurity.org/blood-test-suicide-risk-739662/ (http://www.futurity.org/blood-test-suicide-risk-739662/)
Tbh, I don't know how I feel about this...
I don't think so as quite a few are caused by spontaneous events and no fore thought. Interesting premise though for other disorders. :eusa_think:
Given the NHS spends such a paltry amount on mental health relative to physical health, I could never see a test reliant on this getting funding unless it were made astoundingly cheap. If it did get funding then I have no doubt that already overstretched services would rely on it too much so that they dismiss vulnerable people based on the result from it alone rather than tailoring care to each individual. They're bad enough at relying on generic services and ticking risk boxes as it is, in my view. Nonetheless, it's amazingly interesting. ^_^
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on August 09, 2014, 12:08:30 PM
I don't think so as quite a few are caused by spontaneous events and no fore thought. Interesting premise though for other disorders. :eusa_think:
Well, I meant mainly it's a nice thing and might can save lives if it's real and becomes reality however, how would they test this? Without the person giving the blood's permission? I can see therapy/work abusing this to the fullest extent.. It's that that makes me not know how to feel about it, especially when I apply it to myself...