“This method will remain an adjunctive to traditional diagnostic tools, as mental illnesses are complex and have biological, psychological, and sociocultural etiologies,” Ivers adds. “This is an exciting prospect for identifying biological markers of depression among researchers, but very preliminary in its understanding and potential for use,” says Matthew Boland, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Reno, Nevada, and a member of Psych Central’s Medical Affairs Team.Īlthough blood tests for mental illnesses are still in their early development stages, this scientific advancement could change, even improve, how mental health conditions are diagnosed, which is often by trial and error. The blood test may also help tailor an individual’s medication choices. The breakthrough study indicated that a blood test can determine the severity of depression and the risk for developing severe depression and bipolar disorder in the future. In April 2021, researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine developed a novel blood test for mental illness, suggesting that biological markers for mood disorders can be found within RNA biomarkers. Soon, you could have the option to take a blood test to easily detect a mental health condition like depression. In some cases, trauma-informed care could run the risk of hyper-focusing on an individual’s trauma exclusively, rather than homing in on an individual’s strengths to effectively understand and treat them. Trauma-informed care will only continue to be emphasized in 2022, according to Nathaniel Ivers, PhD, department chair and associate professor at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.įor trauma-informed care to be effective, Ivers emphasizes the need for a holistic approach that includes treatments and strategies that play to an individual’s strengths versus their weaknesses. Nearly 61% of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes, according to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) study.Īround 1 in 6 adults endure four or more traumatic events during childhood, with women and people from minoritized communities facing a greater risk.Ĭlinicians, health care practitioners, educators, and mental health professionals are widely embracing a trauma-informed approach to care to address trauma among the broader population. Note that some of these trends aren’t yet available, but we expect a continued increase in research and accessibility in the months to come. To determine our top mental health trends of 2022, we consulted experts in the field and Psych Central’s Medical Affairs Team. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot happening in the mental health space - too much for one article alone. Other exciting research studies have shown us how we can improve mental health services, address racial and socioeconomic disparities, and ultimately, enhance our overall well-being from the inside out. New developments in science, such as the COVID-19 vaccines, are a testament to humanity’s commitment to healing. In fact, a recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association showed that one-quarter of Americans made a new year’s resolution to improve their mental health in 2022.Īlthough 2021 wasn’t without its challenges, the past year brought growth, understanding, and hopefully, renewed optimism. Mental health became an important part of the public conversation in 2021, as Olympic athletes, celebrities, and other public figures came forward about their well-being and helped reduce the stigma.Īs we enter the third year of the pandemic, we can expect mental health to continue to be a top priority in 2022, particularly as the United States reckons with a growing mental health crisis.
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