Is it possible to diagnose certain mental disorders through a blood test?
No, you cannot diagnose any mental disorder through a blood test. There are tests that can pick up levels of neurotransmitters in urine samples, but that can’t diagnose a mental disorder either, it can only detect whether there are high or low levels of certain transmitters in the body. Often times blood tests are used to rule out physical conditions that can mimic depression and anxiety like thyroid or adrenal problems. By ruling out a physical cause for depressive and anxious symptoms (like hypothyroidism or adrenal insufficiency) a doctor can make a more accurate diagnosis of a mental disorder, but it isn’t an actual diagnosis, only a tool to aid diagnosis. Diagnosis of a mental disorder is made through an extensive interview with the patient, during which they describe their symptoms as specifically as possible. Family history is also looked at, and sometimes surveys are used for both the patient and their family members if they are willing to have their family involved. Diagnosing
