Why we need Wearable Technology in Mental Health

Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, have surged to unprecedented levels, especially since the onset of COVID-19. The demand for mental health support has increased rapidly, prompting a need for objective measurement in a field traditionally reliant on subjective self-reported questionnaires.

The absence of concrete metrics for mental health presents challenges in the overall mental health care system. The current lack of real-time interventions and objective measurements can lead to an increase in mental health crises and low medication adherence. Additionally, healthcare providers are hindered by the absence of remote monitoring capabilities for their patients. This deficiency contributes to an increased reliance on emergency room visits and re-hospitalization, while the absence of objective measurements in clinical trials hampers the effective assessment of treatment efficacy.

Digital Biomarkers: A Promising Step Forward

For a long time, humanity has tried to understand and measure human psychology and emotions. Mood rings gained popularity in the 1970s, attempting to gauge our emotional state based on changing colors. Presently, our quest to measure mood has embraced digital health technology for mental health. Digital biomarkers, captured through voice, video, wearable, or smartphone sensor data, offer insights into an individual’s mood state, providing a non-invasive way to monitor mental health and enable personalized approaches.

Ellipsis Health developed a digital biomarker that uses voice to detect signs of depression. Similarly, Affectiva's digital biomarkers, based on video or facial gestures, identify emotional changes. Biosensors in wearables, like Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), have been linked with mental health across numerous studies. This integration of digital biomarkers marks a promising step in advancing mental health measurement and care.

Wearable Technology Beyond Physical Health

The wearable technology landscape has seen significant advancements in recent years, especially in features designed to manage mental health. Established devices like Fitbit, Oura, Pixel Watch 2, and Garmin, initially focused on physical health, have evolved to include stress measurement and mental health monitoring.

Feel Therapeutics, a leader in this space, has published outcome data on monitoring mood changes through objective data. Their technology continuously and precisely measures Electrodermal Activity (EDA) alongside various physiological markers.

Feel Therapeutics conducted studies that indicate a strong correlation between EDA and emotional states, including stress. EDA sensors are now integrated by companies like Fitbit and Google Pixel to support stress management, showing a shift towards mental health focus in wearables.

EDA: A Vital Marker

Electrodermal Activity (EDA) is a validated marker of sympathetic nervous system activity related to the "fight or flight" response. Continuous EDA tracking offers accurate insights into a user’s mental health status. This allows for the development of new digital biomarkers for objective data management and personalized treatment of mental health disorders.

The Benefits of Wearables in Mental Health

Monitoring mental health through wearables can provide continuous, passive, real-time insights, allowing individuals and professionals to understand mental health status better. Unlike self-reported data, wearables deliver objective, high-quality mental health information.

A peer-reviewed study proved that remote patient monitoring, with an emotion-sensing wearable device and digital interventions, can provide mental health support continuously and effectively improve anxiety and depression.

A Game-Changing Study:

The same study demonstrated a very high average precision (87%) in identifying emotional events passively through the wearable device. Users experienced significant reductions in depression symptoms, leading to increased quality of life and life satisfaction metrics.

Digital Precision Medicine Mental Health

In conclusion, as mental health technologies are integrated into wearables, we stand on the threshold of an exciting journey. Challenges such as achieving clinical validation remain, but the potential impact on clinical practice is transformative. Imagine detecting mood swings in bipolar patients and adjusting treatments accordingly or foreseeing signs of depression relapse. The possibilities for digital precision medicine in mental health are groundbreaking and inspiring.