Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a half-dozen biomarkers that may soon be used to identify people with bipolar disorder — a serious mental health condition that is notoriously difficult to diagnose.

The findings, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, could be a game-changer in the diagnosis and treatment of the mood disorder, which raises the risk for suicide.

"The potential of having a biological test to help accurately diagnose bipolar disorder would make a huge difference to medical practice," said researcher Dr. Mark Frye, head of psychiatry and psychology at Mayo Clinic. "It would then help clinicians to choose the most appropriate treatment for hard-to-diagnose individuals."

Dr. Fryer’s team examined nearly 300 proteins in the blood samples of in 288 patients — nearly half of whom had been diagnosed with various forms of depression and bipolar disorder. In comparing the samples of individuals with and without the mental-health disorders, the researchers 73 proteins that differed among the patients. The results also showed a significant difference for six proteins in individuals with bipolar depression, compared to those without the condition.

Currently, psychiatrists diagnose the condition largely on the basis of subjective analysis of patient symptoms and interviews.

Having a more scientific diagnostic method could take some of the guesswork out of the process and move patients more quickly into treatment.