EXPLORING THE ROLE OF BIOMARKERS IN THE EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Abstract

This study examines the use of biomarker in the early detection and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and its special application to depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Often a psychiatric illness is diagnosed by observing behavioural characteristics and conducting a clinical interview, but this process of diagnosis can cause delay and inaccurate diagnosis and treatment. The study raises the issue of the lack of objective diagnosis in psychiatry and examines the potential for the use of biological markers to inform earlier clinical intervention. The theoretical perspective of the research is rooted in the Biopsychosocial Model and Neuroinflammatory Theory which see psychiatric disorders as a result of interactions between biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Research methodology is quantitative mixed clinical approach which uses biomarker analysis and secondary hospital data. The study population was 450 patients and recorded in psychiatric departments of the 3 tertiary hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar from 2021 to 2025. In addition to DSM-5 diagnostic reports, biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), cortisol and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed. When we analysed the data statistically, it was found that high levels of inflammatory markers were strongly correlated with early psychiatric symptoms and were able to predict them with an accuracy of 82%. The results show that screening with biomarkers can help identify these disorders earlier, minimize the risks associated with delayed treatment, and lead to individualized psychiatric treatment. The study provides quantifiable results on diagnostic accuracy, clinical effectiveness, and biomarker validity in mental health evaluations.