Has Research Found a Reliable Depression Biomarker in Boys?

A major obstacle in the prevention of depression is the lack of a predictive biomarker in individuals who later develop the disorder. British researchers have shown that the combination of a physiological biomarker—salivary cortisol—and the presence of depressive symptoms might be used to predict the development of major depression in adolescents.

Two cohorts (n=660 and 1,198) of British students (mean ages 13.7 and 14.5 years, respectively) participated in this longitudinal study. At baseline, early morning salivary cortisol was measured daily over a four-day period; subjects also completed the Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) and a battery of other neuropsychological tests. Followup interviews were conducted one to three years later.