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Towards a classification of biomarkers of neuropsychiatric disease: from encompass to compass

Molecular Psychiatry volume 20, pages 152–153 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

There is currently considerable imprecision in the nosology of biomarkers used in the study of neuropsychiatric disease. The neuropsychiatric field lags behind others such as oncology, wherein, rather than using 'biomarker' as a blanket term for a diverse range of clinical phenomena, biomarkers have been actively classified into separate categories, including prognostic and predictive tests. A similar taxonomy is proposed for neuropsychiatric diseases in which the core biology remains relatively unknown. This paper divides potential biomarkers into those of (1) risk, (2) diagnosis/trait, (3) state or acuity, (4) stage, (5) treatment response and (6) prognosis, and provides illustrative exemplars. Of course, biomarkers rely on available technology and, as we learn more about the neurobiological correlates of neuropsychiatric disorders, we will realize that the classification of biomarkers across these six categories can change, and some markers may fit into more than one category.

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Acknowledgements

MB is supported by a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship 1059660, and has received grant support from NIH, Simons Autism Foundation, Cancer Council of Victoria, CRC for Mental Health, Stanley Medical Research Foundation, MBF, NHMRC, Beyond Blue, Geelong Medical Research Foundation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Organon, Novartis, Mayne Pharma and Servier. JJM is supported by NHMRC John Cade Fellowship 1056929. AA is supported by Brain and Behaviour Foundation (NARSAD) and the Canadian Institute of Health Research. SJT is supported by the State of Minnesota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia,

    J Davis, M Maes & M Berk

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    A Andreazza

  3. Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia

    J J McGrath

  4. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia

    J J McGrath

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    S J Tye

  6. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia

    S J Tye

  7. Centre of Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    M Berk

  8. Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    M Berk

  9. Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    M Berk

  10. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    M Berk

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  1. J Davis
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Correspondence to J Davis.

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Competing interests

MB has been a speaker for Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi Synthelabo, Servier, Solvay and Wyeth, and served as a consultant to Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck and Servier. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Davis, J., Maes, M., Andreazza, A. et al. Towards a classification of biomarkers of neuropsychiatric disease: from encompass to compass. Mol Psychiatry 20, 152–153 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2014.139

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