First indications of depression: blood analysis as a hopeful in Tyrol!

First indications of depression: blood analysis as a hopeful in Tyrol!

Around 22,500 people in Tyrol suffer from mental illnesses, including frequent disorders such as fears, constraints, burn-out, eating disorders and depression. This reports Dolomitenstadt . The high number of depression in Austria is particularly alarming: around 15 % of the population has experienced depressive episodes in the past ten years, which has become the most common mental health disorder in the country.

Since 2018, all Tyrolean districts have been available for free offers for clinical and health psychological care to help those affected quickly. In East Tyrol, the Psychosocial Center (PSZ) on Maximilianstrasse in Lienz offers support offers. The team of four specialists advised almost 300 clients in 2024, with a total of 840 consultations, including 50 at home.

comprehensive support for those affected

The psychosocial centers in Tyrol offer a wide range of services ranging from inpatient and outpatient treatments to mobile and digital aid. The PSZ Innsbruck, part of these centers, enables people in crisis situations and their relatives to gain access to professional support. The advisory services are available regionally, free of charge and promptly, which aims to reduce severe disease courses.

An important part of the work of the psychosocial centers are the specialized specialists. These include psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and recovery companions who take care of the individual needs of the clients. The PSZ offers a first place for mentally ill people by contacting telephone, which is offered from Monday to Friday, as well as personal home visits.

research results for early detection

A future -oriented research project at the University of Innsbruck is currently investigating the connection between blood changes and depressive symptoms. As part of this project, blood samples are analyzed by patients who have received electroconvulsion therapy (EKT), a treatment method that is used for therapy -resistant depression. The Tyrol state government supports the project with 90,000 euros to find biomarkers in the blood that could serve as indicators for depression and thus improve early detection.

In the analysis, the metabolism and the immune cells of the patients are examined, and the results are compared with the mental state of those affected. This innovative approach could fundamentally contribute to how depression will be treated in the future. LH Anton Mattle underlines that mental illnesses are not a taboo subject and that early detection is crucial for the success of the treatment.