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Haifa

Blood Test 95% Accurate in Spotting Suicide Risk in Bipolar Patients, Says Israeli Scientist

A Haifa researcher reports a new approach that flags high suicide risk among people with bipolar disorder using a simple blood test. The team built an artificial-intelligence model that reads genetic signatures in white blood cells and, in a peer-reviewed publication, surpassed 95% accuracy. With bipolar patients facing far higher lifetime suicide risks than the general public, a reliable screening tool could enable earlier intervention and closer monitoring.

The study, produced with Canadian and Italian collaborators, is framed as a first step toward broader risk models that combine biomarkers, brain measures, and behavioral data. Researchers stress the need for larger, long-term studies across diverse populations to validate and refine the method, and for protocols to guide treatment responses when a test signals elevated risk.

If confirmed, such testing could give psychiatrists and caregivers a practical tool to personalize care plans, adjust medications, and mobilize support services before a crisis. The hope is to save lives through timely, targeted action.

(TOI/VFI News)

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3