Blood test could predict the severity of depression in adolescence

Adolescents with depression have higher levels of certain molecules in their blood than those without the condition. The finding could help identify teenagers who are more susceptible to depression, and lead to earlier interventions for them.

Depression is the most common mental illness worldwide, and adolescents are especially vulnerable to developing it. For instance, an estimated 1 in 5 teenagers in the US met the criteria for major depressive disorder in 2021. Yet diagnosing and treating the condition is difficult due to a lack of objective measures…