Can Your Spit Help To Diagnose Stress, Anxiety, and Depression?

CONGRATULATIONS! Depression is on track to become the world’s second most common disease by 2030, second only to heart failure!

We are the so-called most advanced species on Earth. Don't these stats reveal the irony of the human race?

Over the past decade, we've seen a surge in affective disorders.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 280 million people worldwide have depression, including 5% of the world’s adults and 5.7% of adults above age 60.

Often, stress and anxiety precede or accompany depression, creating a complex web of mental health challenges. Nearly 75% of children and adolescents with depression also experience anxiety.

The overlap between these conditions complicates diagnosis and treatment.

Current Diagnostic Challenges

Today, diagnosing stress, anxiety, and depression relies heavily on patient observation and interviews.

While tools like the Beck and Montgomery-Asberg in depression, Hamilton in depression and anxiety and Perceived Stress Scale are valuable, they are not foolproof.

Many a time, misdiagnosis delays appropriate treatment, prolongs suffering, and complicates recovery.

Into the World of Spit

Imagine a world where diagnosing stress, anxiety, and depression is as simple as spitting into a tube. No lengthy interviews, no subjective assessments—just a quick, non-invasive test.

This isn't science fiction; it's the potential future of mental health diagnostics i.e. saliva diagnostics.

Researchers are exploring saliva as a goldmine for diagnosing these conditions.

Saliva is easy to collect, non-invasive, and stable at room temperature. Unlike blood, it doesn’t coagulate, making it perfect for diagnostic use. Plus, it can be collected at home, making it convenient for young children and the elderly.

Here is a list of promising Salivary Biomarkers for diagnosing mental health issues like stress, anxiety and depression:

1. Cortisol: 
Known as the stress hormone, cortisol levels fluctuate with stress and can differentiate between stress and depression.

2. Immunoglobulin A (sIgA): 
Reflects immune system activity, which is closely linked to stress.

3. Lysozyme: 
An enzyme that fights infection, its levels can be indicative of stress.

4. Melatonin: 
It helps regulate sleep; its levels can help distinguish depression from stress.

5. Alpha-amylase (sAA): 
It is an enzyme that breaks down starch, its levels increase with stress.

6. Chromogranin A (CgA): 
It is a protein involved in the stress response.

7. Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF-2): 
Linked to brain health and neuroplasticity.
        

While these biomarkers are promising, more research is needed to refine their use.

Developing specific assay profiles for different mental health disorders could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment.

Additionally, understanding the optimal time of day for saliva sampling is crucial, as some biomarkers follow a circadian rhythm.

Why It Matters

The potential to diagnose stress, anxiety, and depression accurately and swiftly using saliva could transform mental health care.

It could lead to timely and personalized treatment, improving outcomes and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.

A Final Thought

The journey from preliminary research to practical application is long, but the promise of salivary biomarkers is bright.

They represent a future where mental health diagnostics are more accessible, reliable, and tailored to individual needs.

What do you think—could salivary biomarkers revolutionize the way we diagnose mental health conditions?

Post inspiration:

Chojnowska S, Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek I, K?pka A, Kna? M, Waszkiewicz N. Salivary Biomarkers of Stress, Anxiety and Depression. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021; 10(3):517. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10030517