Description

Stress and anxiety take a significant toll on the overall health of a person. Stress hormones like cortisol can be elevated as well as increased difficulty with insulin resistance and blood sugar abnormalities. It is helpful to monitor these values help the body's response to stressful situations.

This panel includes the following test:

C-peptide

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Cortisol

Free T4

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)

Lipid Profile Panel

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Fasting recommended.

Additional information about each test is listed below:

C-peptide is important in mental health research because studies have shown a potential link between low levels of C-peptide (a byproduct of insulin production) and an increased risk of developing depression, with some research suggesting that C-peptide may play a role in regulating brain function and mood through its impact on glucose metabolism in the brain; therefore, measuring C-peptide levels could potentially be helpful in understanding and managing certain mental health conditions, particularly depression.

A complete blood count (CBC) is important in mental health assessments because it can help identify underlying physical conditions that may be contributing to or exacerbating mental health symptoms, such as anemia, infections, inflammation, or bleeding disorders, allowing for a more comprehensive treatment plan by addressing potential physiological causes alongside psychological interventions; essentially, it acts as a general health check to rule out physical issues that might be mimicking mental health symptoms.

A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is important for mental health because it can reveal underlying physical conditions, like thyroid issues or electrolyte imbalances, that might be contributing to or mimicking mental health symptoms, allowing for a more comprehensive treatment plan by identifying potential medical causes for a patient's psychological presentation; essentially, it helps rule out physical factors that could be impacting mental health. 

Cortisol is a hormone that affects the body's stress response, metabolism, and immune system. It's important to mental health because fluctuations in cortisol levels are linked to psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression.

Thyroid hormone levels, including free T4, are important because thyroid dysfunction has been linked to mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder.

A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test can be important for mental health because it can help assess a patient's overall health and identify diabetes. Diabetes and depression are linked, and HbA1c levels can be a proxy for glucose control.

Lipids are important for mental health because they play a crucial role in the structure and function of the brain, particularly in cell membranes, neurotransmission, and inflammation regulation, with research suggesting that imbalances in certain lipid types may be linked to the development of mental disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia; therefore, monitoring and managing lipid levels could potentially contribute to mental health treatment and prevention strategies. 

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are important to mental health because thyroid abnormalities can cause mood disorders like depression and anxiety.