New Laboratory Tests in Psychiatry: What Should Mental Health Practitioners Know?

In recent years, a significant upsurge in the development of new laboratory tests for use in psychiatric practice has occurred. This column discusses salient questions about those tests to help mental health practitioners better understand the potential role of such tests in their clinical practices. These issues are particularly relevant for mental health professionals who prescribe psychotropic medications. The column does not provide an exhaustive list of tests nor does it review the pros and cons of any specific company's tests.