The present invention relates to a vasopressin receptor 1B (V.sub.1B) antagonist for use in the treatment of depressive symptoms and/or anxiety symptoms in patients showing an elevated arginine vasopressin (AVP) level and/or an elevated copeptin level. The present invention further relates to a method for predicting the treatment response to a V.sub.1B antagonist in patients with depressive symptoms and/or anxiety symptoms.

The present disclosure provides a basal ganglia-on-a-chip for screening therapeutic agents for brain and nervous system diseases and a method for fabricating the same. The present invention provides a method for screening therapeutic agents for dopamine-dependent brain and nervous system diseases by using a basal ganglia-on-a-chip. When the basal ganglia-on-a-chip of the present invention is used in the effect evaluation of therapeutic agents for brain and nervous system diseases, the effect evaluation of therapeutic candidate substances can be economically and promptly carried out compared with an existing technique.

The present disclosure provides a basal ganglia-on-a-chip for screening therapeutic agents for brain and nervous system diseases and a method for fabricating the same. The present invention provides a method for screening therapeutic agents for dopamine-dependent brain and nervous system diseases by using a basal ganglia-on-a-chip. When the basal ganglia-on-a-chip of the present invention is used in the effect evaluation of therapeutic agents for brain and nervous system diseases, the effect evaluation of therapeutic candidate substances can be economically and promptly carried out compared with an existing technique.

Provided is a means for detecting a subject with mild cognitive impairment or assisting in the detection thereof.

A biomarker for testing for mild cognitive impairment, comprising Claudin-5.

A method for determining neurotransmitter levels and/or neurotransmitter receptor sensitivity in an individual, comprising: determining a taste recognition profile of the individual for at least one taste modality prior and subsequent to the administration of a pharmaceutical for increasing neurotransmission; comparing the taste recognition profiles to determine a change; and comparing that change with corresponding measurements from a comparative database to determine neurotransmitter levels and/or neurotransmitter receptor sensitivity in the individual. In addition, a sample of a taste modality is provided for use in a method of diagnosis of a psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic or physical disorder in an individual.

The methods of the present invention are useful for determining whether an individual has or is at risk of developing an affective disorder by detecting the expression level of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in a biological sample. The methods of the present invention are also useful for identifying compounds that modulate (e.g., decrease) the expression level or activity of CTGF. The present invention further provides therapeutic methods that target CTGF for the treatment of an affective disorder.

Described herein are methods and compositions for diagnosing and evaluating the treatment of depression using one or more biomarker metabolites for the diagnosis and monitoring treatment efficacy. In one aspect, the biomarker metabolites comprise bile acids and can be used to screen subjects for the likelihood of developing depression or anxiety, the diagnosis thereof, monitoring the efficacy of treatment, and evaluating a subject's propensity for responding to treatment.

Provided is a method and apparatus for predicting a posttraumatic behavior problem that may predict a posttraumatic violent behavior problem of an individual, in detail, that may determine a biological phenotype of an individual experiencing a traumatic event within a predetermined period after the individual is exposed to the traumatic event, predict a violent symptom presentation probability of the individual based on the biological phenotype of the individual, and suggest an objective basis for preventive intervention in a development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of the individual based on a prediction result.

The invention relates to biomarkers and a method of diagnosing or monitoring depression, anxiety disorder or other psychotic disorder.

A method of determining risk of stress in a subject involves determining in a biological sample, the level of one or more forms of calcium binding protein spermatid specific 1 protein, wherein the one or more forms comprise one or more of 12 kDa, 15 kDa, 18 kDa, 20 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 55 kDa, or 90 kDa forms; comparing the level of the one or more forms in the sample with the level of the one or more forms in a normal control; determining whether the subject has risk of stress in accordance with the result; wherein a difference in the level of the one or more forms relative to the level of the normal control, is indicative of stress or responsiveness to stressful stimuli; and treating the subject with a stress management program that involves using one or more forms of 12 kDa, 15 kDa, 18 kDa, 20 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 55 kDa, or 90 kDa forms as therapeutic targets.