Saliva Test Identifies Teens at Risk for Major Depression

saliva testThe Associated Press (2/18, Cheng) reported that according to a study published online Feb. 17 in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, “a saliva test for teens, specifically boys with mild symptoms of depression could help identify those who will later develop major depression.”

The study involved more than 1,800 teenagers aged 12 to 19.

Researchers used a saliva test to evaluate cortisol levels in the teens.

The researchers found that the boys who had high cortisol levels and mild depression symptoms were up to 14 times more likely to suffer from clinical depression when compared to other teens with normal levels, while girls with similarly elevated cortisol levels were only four times more likely to develop the condition.

Saliva testing of cortisol levels is relatively inexpensive and easy to administer and this level of predictive power suggests that the test may be helpful in trying to figure out which teens with problems would really benefit from intervention to prevent depression.

Consider asking your doctor to run a saliva test for your teen to help determine if they are at risk for major depression.