Biological Diagnosis of Depression: A Biomarker Panel from Several Nonspecial Indicators Instead of the Specific Biomarker(s)

It is a consensus that the diagnosis efficiency of depression is rather low in clinic. The traditional way of diagnosing depression by symptomatology is flawed. Recent years, a growing body of evidence has underlined the importance of physiological indicators in the diagnosis of depression. However, the diagnosis of depression is difficult to be like some common clinical diseases, which have clear physiological indicators. A single physiological index provides limited information to clinicians and is of little help in the diagnosis of depression. Thus, it is more rational and practical to diagnose depression with a biomarker panel, which covers a few non-specific indicators, such as hormones, cytokines, and neurotrophins. This open review suggested that biomarker panel had a bright future in creating a new model of depression diagnosis or at least providing a reference to the existing depression criteria. The viewpoint is also the future of other psychiatric diagnosis.