Biomarkers and methods for screening expression levels of the biomarkers for predicting suicidality (referred herein to suicidal ideation and actions, future hospitalizations and suicide completion) are disclosed. Also disclosed are quantitative questionnaires and mobile applications for assessing affective state and for assessing socio-demographic and psychological suicide risk factors, and their use to compute scores that can predict suicidality. Finally, an algorithm that combines biomarkers and computer apps for identifying subjects who are at risk for committing suicide is disclosed, as well as methods to mitigate and prevent suicidality based on the biomarkers and computer apps.

This invention relates to the field of treatment, prevention, and identification of persons at high risk of developing major depressive disorder based upon elevated concentration of serotonin 1A receptors (i.e., elevated serotonin 1A receptor binding potential). In particular, the current invention identifies offspring of parents with major depressive disorder who are at significantly elevated risk of developing major depressive disorder before any symptoms have occurred and treats these patients prior to any symptoms and more importantly before developing major depressive disorder. The invention also relates to the identification of persons who have discontinued treatment for major depressive disorder based upon elevated concentration of serotonin 1A receptors (i.e., elevated serotonin 1A receptor binding potential).

Provided are vesicles derived from bacteria of the genus Lactococcus and a use thereof, and the inventors experimentally confirmed that the vesicles were significantly reduced in samples obtained from patients with diabetes, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, stroke, renal failure, Parkinson's disease and depression, compared with a normal individual, and the vesicles inhibited the secretion of inflammation mediators caused by pathogenic vesicles. Therefore, it is expected that the vesicles derived from bacteria of the genus Lactococcus can be effectively used for a method of diagnosing diabetes, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, stroke, renal failure, Parkinson's disease or depression, and a composition for preventing or treating the disease or inflammatory disease.

The invention provides a method for determining a psychiatric disorder, as well as a marker for determining a psychiatric disorder, such as depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or dementia with high reliability (accuracy and precision). The method involves measuring amounts of (A) anthranilic acid and (B) tryptophan, kynurenine, or 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid in a sample, calculating a ratio of the amounts (A) and (B), and determining a psychiatric disorder based on the ratio of the amounts (A) and (B).

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.

Biomarkers and methods for screening expression levels of the biomarkers for predicting suicidality (referred herein to suicidal ideation and actions, future hospitalizations and suicide completion) are disclosed. Also disclosed are quantitative questionnaires and mobile applications for assessing affective state and for assessing socio-demographic and psychological suicide risk factors, and their use to compute scores that can predict suicidality. Finally, an algorithm that combines biomarkers and computer apps for identifying subjects who are at risk for committing suicide is disclosed, as well as methods to mitigate and prevent suicidality based on the biomarkers and computer apps.

The present disclosure relates to a method of diagnosing a mood disorder in a subject comprising measuring serum FAM19A5 concentration with an antagonist (e.g., an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof) that specifically binds to FAM19A5. The present disclosure also relates to a method of treating a mood disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an FAM19A5 antagonist.

Disclosed is a method for diagnosing a mood disorder or susceptibility to a mood disorder, including depressive disorders and bipolar disorder, from a biological sample taken from a subject. The method includes detecting markers of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) in the biological sample; determining MAO-A concentration from the markers; and correlating the MAO-A concentration in the biological sample to a control group which does not have a mood disorder in order to diagnose or determine susceptibility to the mood disorder in the subject. Also disclosed is a method of detecting peripheral markers of MAO-A for the diagnosis of a mood disorder or susceptibility to a mood disorder. Also provided are polypeptide markers.

The invention relates to biomarkers and methods of diagnosing or monitoring bipolar disorder, or a predisposition thereto.

Methods for treating depression in, and decreasing a dose of ketamine given to, a subject in need thereof, comprising, administering a CaMKII inhibitor are provided.