CAMBRIDGE - The first step for treating mental illness is to determine whether or not a patient has one.

This fact is inspiring scientists to find more efficient ways to diagnose mental illness. Presently, it can take up to twelve years for someone to be properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Finding the correct medicine for a patient is also another difficult hindrance those with mental illness face. Mental illnesses are some of the most challenging diseases to treat, because researchers and scientist don't fully understand what causes them.

Now, they are starting to test a patient's blood for biomarkers that could indicate psychological conditions.