Researchers in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany are combining genome-wide data into polygenic risk scores to predict both illness risk and treatment response. That work connects lab tools with clinic decisions and asks whether a blood sample could become part of routine mental health care. The technical challenge is large, but the possible gain is clear: faster relief and fewer side effects for people who need it.
How could a test like this reshape who gets which treatment and when? What barriers stand between a lab result and everyday prescribing? Follow the full article to see how these teams address accuracy, fairness across different populations, and the steps toward making genetic guidance widely available for mental health care.
Millions struggle with depression and anxiety, often enduring long waits for effective treatment. Scientists in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany are developing a genetic test to predict which medications will actually work. Using polygenic risk scores, they can analyze DNA variations linked to mental health and drug response.