When clinically appropriate, advanced laboratory testing and targeted nutritional support can uncover root contributors to mental health symptoms and personalize your treatment plan.
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Independent functional lab testing through Fullscript Journeys. Ordered separately from psychiatric NP services for clients who want direct access to integrative testing.
What it is: A comprehensive stool test using qPCR technology to detect bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal organisms, along with markers of gut inflammation, digestion, and immune function.
How it may help mental health: The gut-brain axis plays a central role in mood, anxiety, sleep, and cognition. Dysbiosis, leaky gut, and chronic GI inflammation are linked to depression, anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue. Identifying and addressing imbalances can reduce systemic inflammation and improve neurotransmitter production.
What it is: A urine test that evaluates over 70 metabolic markers reflecting cellular energy production, neurotransmitter metabolism, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, B-vitamin status, and intestinal yeast or bacterial overgrowth.
How it may help mental health: Imbalances in dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine metabolites — along with mitochondrial dysfunction or nutrient depletion — can drive depression, anxiety, ADHD-like symptoms, and fatigue. The OAT helps pinpoint root contributors so treatment can be tailored.
What it is: Measures mineral content and toxic metal exposure (such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium) accumulated in hair tissue over the prior several months.
How it may help mental health: Heavy metal toxicity and mineral imbalances (zinc, copper, magnesium, lithium) are associated with mood instability, anxiety, irritability, cognitive issues, and treatment-resistant symptoms. HTMA guides targeted repletion and detoxification support.
What it is: A urine test measuring hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one (HPL), a byproduct that binds and depletes zinc and vitamin B6.
How it may help mental health: Elevated pyrroles are associated with anxiety, depression, mood swings, poor stress tolerance, and difficulty handling emotional triggers. Targeted repletion of zinc, B6, and other nutrients often produces meaningful symptom relief.
What it is: Measures plasma or urinary levels of essential and non-essential amino acids — the building blocks of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine.
How it may help mental health: Amino acid deficiencies or imbalances can directly limit neurotransmitter synthesis, contributing to depression, anxiety, insomnia, low motivation, and cravings. Results guide precise nutritional and supplementation strategies.
What it is: A blood test measuring EPA, DHA, and DPA omega-3 fatty acids along with the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio — a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk.
How it may help mental health: Low omega-3 status is strongly linked to depression, perinatal mood disorders, ADHD, and cognitive decline. Optimizing omega-3 levels supports brain cell membrane integrity, reduces neuroinflammation, and enhances response to psychiatric treatment.
What it is: A cheek-swab DNA test that analyzes genes affecting how individuals metabolize and respond to psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, ADHD medications, and anxiolytics.
How it may help mental health: Pharmacogenomic insight helps reduce trial-and-error prescribing, identify medications most likely to work, avoid those prone to side effects, and personalize dosing — particularly valuable for treatment-resistant depression or anxiety.
DUTCH Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones)
What it is: A dried urine panel that maps sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA), the diurnal cortisol pattern, and hormone metabolites.
How it may help mental health: Hormonal shifts and HPA-axis dysregulation are tightly linked to depression, anxiety, PMS/PMDD, perimenopausal mood changes, perinatal mood disorders, insomnia, and burnout. The DUTCH test helps identify hormonal drivers of psychiatric symptoms.
Functional and integrative testing is not a substitute for psychiatric care. These tests are recommended on a case-by-case basis and are typically billed separately from insurance.