New blood test could diagnose depression

According to the Women’s and Children’s Health Network, nearly a quarter of young adults suffer from depression by the time they are 24 years old, which can lead to illness, substance abuse or even suicide.

But a new blood test could make diagnosing depression accurately among teens much easier, according to a study recently published in Translational Psychiatry.

Researchers identified 26 potential biological depression markers and then tested 28 teens, both black and white, from Chicago, half of whom are diagnosed with depression.

The depressed teens had either higher or lower levels of 11 of the biomarkers, and 18 of the biomarkers could also accurately predict whether depressed teens also suffered from an anxiety disorder.

The biomarkers now must be tested in a larger group of teens to ensure the initial findings are accurate, said study author Eva Redei, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Though the biomarkers currently being studied can only potentially diagnose depression in teens, Redei’s group is also testing biomarkers for adults.

The biomarkers were identified by studying rats that showed symptoms that mimic those of depression in humans. The symptoms in both humans and rats are the results of conditions that are caused by either genetics or environmental factors.

If the biomarkers prove to accurately diagnose depression, the blood test will be able to provide an objective diagnosis, which could help teens deal with the stigma that often accompanies diagnosis and could create new, more proactive treatments before symptoms even appear.

Currently, depression is subjectively diagnosed after a doctor or psychologist asks the patient a series of questions about their mood over the past month.

Psychology Professor Profile

As part of my beat, I had to create a video to accompany the profile I wrote, and here it is.

Nancy Karlin: Two Decades of Teaching

Reflecting on the semester so far

The semester is nearing an end, and so is my time in Advanced News and Feature Writing. I’ve written a day in the life story, I’m currently working on a profile of a psychology professor and I will soon be starting a column.

For my day, or week, as it turned out, in the life story, I interviewed two young women who are doctoral psychology students and work as counselors at both the University of Northern Colorado’s Psychological Services Clinic and other counseling facilities.

I really enjoyed reporting for this story. I learned a lot about a facility I knew little about and had fun talking to the women. The counselors were very friendly and the interview felt more like a conversation than a formal interview.

Because of patient confidentiality, I was not able to follow around the counselors and had to resort to only interviews. Having this obstacle before I even started my reporting taught me how to solve problems I may face as a reporter.

 I wish I had a way to study counseling lingo before I began my reporting. The counselors had to explain some details to me, but they were happy to do so and it gave me an even more in-depth understanding of the subject.

I should have focused my description in my opening paragraphs more on the counselors than the facility. The description was vivid, but considering the story is about the counselors, I probably should have shifted the focus of the description to be about them.

But overall I was pleased with my final draft.

I’ve completed my interview for the profile of Nancy Karlin, a psychology professor at UNC, and look forward to writing the story. She told me some great stories that will make for an interesting profile.

New Approach to Bulimia Treatment Announced During Eating Disorder Awareness Week

In a recent study conducted by researchers at Drexel University, researchers found that analyzing a bulimic patient’s weight history can significantly improve his or her success of treatment.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, bulimia nervosa is a mental disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercise. The episodes occur twice or more per week for at least three months. With the condition, one’s self-worth is also greatly influenced by their weight.

The Drexel study followed 78 women with bulimia for two years and 110 women for eight years, interviewing them every six months.

The researchers found that 59 percent of the two-year group and 71.6 percent of the eight-year group reached their highest weight after the onset of the disorder and before they hit remission.

The researchers also found that the women who had reached their highest weight after the onset developed bulimia at an earlier age and struggled with it for a longer time.

The study concluded that examining a bulimic patient’s weight history can lead to more productive and successful treatment.

The results of this study were released just in time for the National Eating Disorder Association’s annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week, a campaign recognized at the University of Northern Colorado.

The Women’s Resource Center and the Counseling Center at UNC hosted a variety of events between Feb. 27 and March 2 to help raise awareness about eating disorders, including a Mind and Body health fair, a screening of “Someday Melissa,” a documentary about a young woman’s struggle with an eating disorder that she ultimately lost, and Canvas and Chocolates, an event where students could paint what they think is beautiful and snack on chocolate desserts.

About the blog and blogger

This blog is my first try at blogging and one of the main purposes of it is to help me practice my writing in a new medium. It will also help me critically look at my work.


I may not have experience as a blogger, but I do have experience as a journalist. I have worked at The Mirror as a reporter since October 2009 and as news editor since April 2011. I also have experience writing and editing for broadcast through an internship with The Aurora Channel.


My journalistic strengths include meeting deadlines, getting the facts the reader needs and using quotes effectively to further the story. I could improve on my interviewing skills. I always get the information I need, but sometimes I think of a great question after I finish an interview.


I’m covering the School of Psychological Sciences and the Department of Counseling Psychology within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences as my beat. I have covered the Student Senate beat before so I know the basics of beats. I’m hoping this beat will help me learn to write clearly on a scientific subject and get better at coming up with unique story ideas.


The extent of my blogging experience is Twitter, so I am new at this. I’m worried that I will write too much. I can get wordy sometimes and a blog is not the place for that. I’m confident that I will always have something to write about though. Having a place to type out my thoughts and reflect on my work will help me improve as a journalist.