A new blood test for anxiety

A new blood test for anxiety


A new way to diagnose and treat anxiety is on the horizon — and it involves a blood test.

Researchers at Indiana University have validated a test for anxiety that measures the blood biomarkers associated with anxiety. It works on the same principle as other blood tests for depression, pain and post-traumatic stress disorder by screening for biological molecules that signal a disease or disorder.

In the study, three groups of patients took a blood test every three to six months or after a new psychiatric hospitalization. The test allowed researchers to identify genetic biomarkers and match them with medicinally beneficial food and appropriate medications.

The researchers say a blood test for anxiety also holds a potential advantage over current methods of diagnosis because it’s more objective. One current approach to treating anxiety involves talking to patients about how they feel to determine which medications might be appropriate. A blood test could help efficiently match patients to the most effective medications while also reducing the potential for addiction.

Because biomarkers fluctuate, a blood test also has another inherent advantage. It can help assess a patient’s risk of higher anxiety levels in the future and determine how other factors such as hormonal changes might play a role.

The researchers also see the test as a starting point for developing new anxiety treatments that are more targeted to individual patients. After the scientists’ validation, the test is being developed by a private company for wider use.

Someday, the ability to keep calm and carry on may start with a quick blood sample.

Related Episodes