3 ms·

Why don't we have valid an reliable biomarkers for depression then? What is a 'normal' level of catecholamines? Not disagreeing that the mental/physical dicho

• podgaj 5y ago
  Because currently it’s impossible to test the amount of catecholamines in the brain. What is a normal level? well, you know it when you feel it. There is no normal level, I get what you mean, depression exists for a reason. As does mania. These are healthy responses when we come into contact with an external stimuli. The issue is with mental illness, not mental health. With mental illness the changes happen with no apparent environmental stimulus.
  • Pyramus 5y ago
    It is possible to test: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catecholamine#Testing_for_catecholamines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catecholamine#Testing_for_cate... Somebody else stated it already better than I could: We do have a number of biomarkers for depression, the problem is they only correlate with the disease, so asking you how you feel in a structured way is still more indicative.
    • podgaj 5y ago
      I said they’re impossible to test in the brain, not in the plasma. It’s a huge difference. Even the serum tests for catecholamines vary so much that you have to take them specific times of the day. And it can in no way diagnosis depression or any other mood disorders through those test. There Are no biomarkers for depression right now that are widely tested or even tested minimally. I know, I asked for them all the time because I have bipolar disorder.