So how many times have you been told, as a depressive person, that you “just need to get over it” or that “it’s all in your head”? I know I’ve been told this over the years, and I just want to punch those who say it in the mouth (okay, so a little aggressive there, but it’s frustrating!). People can be so flippant, thinking we can just wish our depression away. If we could, we would have done it already, don’t you think?
There is a study that was published in 2014 for a new potential blood test for depression. The study is small and, like any promising study, needs to be replicated by other scientists. As a general principle, never rely on one study alone when evaluating scientific evidence; instead, look for trends in what several studies find. But if something can be detected by a blood test, then it’s not just your imagination, is it? For more on this study, check out this link.
There is already a blood test available called MDDScore (MDD means Major Depressive Disorder), but it’s not FDA-approved and it’s $800, both things that work against its use. However, the fact that it exists and is over 90% accurate in identifying depressed patients gives more evidence that depression is not just laziness or weakness of character. The maker of MDDScore, Ridge Diagnostics, has an informative Facebook page on depression, which you can find here. For those of you with a highly technical bend, here is a site you might enjoy.
So the next time someone tells you to “just snap out of it,” tell them that depression is a biological illness and that science backs you up!
THE DEPRESSIVE DIVA 