Saturday, August 4, 2007

'Mark C test' reduces antidepressants-related suicide rate

When it comes to the use of antidepressants, people are always sketchy about the results.In order to restore the public belief in the antidepressants, the Mark C test was carried out recently. This was also geared towards reducing the suicide rate in the US.
According to the Center for Disease control (CDC), the suicide rates in 2004 increased dramatically. This is what a September ‘07 CDC survey stated. As an effort to curb the suicide rates, the NeuroMark company, the developers of the Mark C test developed this new testing.
The company officials mentioned that earlier there was no way to figure out whether antidepressants would help or harm patients. Now the Mark C test,
differentiates between the subset of patients who are at a risk of suicide and those who could take antidepressants safely.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health warning against the antidepressant drugs a few years back. But, people still used this kind of drug. The Mark C is the fine line between life and suicide.
How does the Mark C test work?
A cotton swab is used to get DNA sample, very much like the technique in a crime lab. The genes GRIK 2 and GRIA 3 are used as parameters to encode the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.
I think I better stop here since, the actual details are next to incomprehensible unless you are medically inclined. The bottom line is: Mark C is helping prevent suicide from antidepressants.
[Source]

No comments: