© 2024 WYPR
WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Could A Blood Test Determine Suicide Risk?

tschörda /Flickr / Creative Commons

Our country loses tens of thousands of people to suicide every year. Some of them no doubt showed suicidal signs, others less so. What if there was a simple blood test that could predict who is at a higher risk of suicide? Scientists at Johns Hopkins are looking at how to do just that.

Zachary Kaminsky is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. He’s also the lead researcher on a study published last week that posits a possible blood test for suicide risk. He joins Sheilah to talk about it.

Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.