Rethinking the studies of diagnostic biomarkers for mental disorders

Abstract

For mental disorders, the identification of biomarkers with high specificity, sensitivity, and validity remains a major challenge due to their heterogeneity and symptomatic overlap across disorders. In this review, we provide an overview of current research on mental disorders and highlight two key strategies potentially capable of addressing ​ these challenges: data integration and methodological ​innovation. Effective biomarker identification requires integrating large-scale, multicenter, and multidimensional data integration, including psychological, biological, physiological, and behavioral data. Innovative data acquisition technologies and analytical methods, alongside ​ novel approaches such as leveraging treatment response to validate biomarkers, are equally pivotal ​for advancing the field. We anticipate that the progress in this domain will be bolstered by the integration of new methodologies and technologies.