A Futuristic Approach to Psychiatric Diagnosis

Abstract

Earlier diagnosis and intervention have value in virtually every illness. Concentrating on early treatment even before the clinical syndrome emerges is a futuristic goal in neuropsychiatric disorders. But psychiatric diagnosis relies exclusively on subjective considerations, not on objective laboratory tests and biological markers. Nevertheless, at some point in the future, a new way of diagnosing psychiatric disorders will overtake conventional diagnostic procedures that are depending on symptom checklists. Developing a new set of diagnostic criteria based on genomics and neurocircuitry of psychiatric disorders will not only lead to a more precise diagnosis but will a l s o h e l p u s d e v e l o p m o r e s p e c i f i c , biotechnological , and disease-modifying pharmacologic agents. It is truly thought-provoking to consider that online search systems, or other commonly used social network systems may be used to detect those who may be at very high risk of developing psychosis. Recently, long-time director of the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) Dr. Thomas R. Insel joined Google Life Sciences. In an interview Insel acknowledged that he believed that technology companies are going to play an increasingly important role in understanding the complexities of brain function and improve our understanding of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and autism. In this editorial, we briefly review the candidate diagnostic tests in psychiatry and make recommendations on the future development. Automated Speech Analysis Programs