Method of diagnostic relevance based on taste recognition

A method for determining a change in monoamine levels and/or monoamine receptor sensitivity in an individual, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) at a first point in time, determining a first taste recognition threshold of the individual for at least one taste modality subsequent to an administration of a pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (b) at a second point in time, determining a second taste recognition threshold of the individual for the at least one taste modality subsequent to an administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• and
• (c) comparing the first taste recognition threshold with the second taste recognition threshold to determine the change in at least one of monoamine levels and monoamine receptor sensitivity in the individual.

A method for determining whether an individual suffering from a psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic or physical disorder is not suitable for treatment with a pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for at least one taste modality prior to an administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (b) determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for the at least one taste modality subsequent to the administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (c) performing a comparison between the taste recognition threshold of step (a) and the taste recognition threshold of step (b) to determine a change in taste recognition threshold of the individual to the at least one taste modality;
• and
• (d) performing a comparison between the change in taste recognition threshold and corresponding measurements from a comparative database to determine whether the individual is suffering from a psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic or physical disorder that is not suitable for treatment with the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission.

A method for determining whether an individual suffering from a psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic or physical disorder is not suitable for treatment with a pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for first and second taste modalities prior to an administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (b) determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for first and second taste modalities subsequent to the administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (c) performing a comparison between the taste recognition threshold of step (a) and the taste recognition threshold of step (b) to determine a first change in taste recognition threshold of the individual to the first taste modality and a second change in taste recognition threshold of the individual to the second taste modality;
• and
• (d) performing a comparison between the first change in taste recognition threshold and the second change in taste recognition threshold to determine whether the individual is suffering from a psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic or physical disorder that is not suitable for treatment with the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission.

A sample of a taste modality for use in a method of in vivo diagnosis of a disorder in which monoamine levels and/or monoamine receptor sensitivity is deregulated in an individual, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• (a) contacting the taste modality with the individual's tongue and determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for the taste modality prior to an administration of a pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (b) contacting the taste modality with the individual's tongue and determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for the taste modality subsequent to the administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (c) performing a comparison between the taste recognition threshold of step (a) and the taste recognition threshold of step (b) to determine a change in taste recognition threshold of the individual to the taste modality;
• and
• (d) performing a comparison between the change in taste recognition threshold and corresponding measurements from a comparative database to diagnose a disorder in which at least one of monoamine levels and monoamine receptor sensitivity is deregulated in the individual.

A method for determining monoamine levels and/or monoamine receptor sensitivity in an individual suffering from a psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic or physical disorder, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for at least one taste modality prior to an administration of a pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• (b) determining a taste recognition threshold of the individual for the at least one taste modality subsequent to the administration of the pharmaceutical for increasing monoamine neurotransmission;
• and
• (c) performing a comparison between the taste recognition threshold of step (a) and the taste recognition threshold of step (b) to determine a change in taste recognition threshold of the individual to the at least one taste modality,
• wherein the change in the taste recognition threshold is used to determine at least one of monoamine levels and monoamine receptor sensitivity in the individual.