Apple Watch Used to Study Depression, Anxiety
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is teaming up with Apple to conduct a three-year study into anxiety and depression using the company's smartwatch.
UCLA researchers are hoping the study, which is being sponsored by Apple, will help them better understand how factors such as sleep and exercise relate to depression and anxiety symptoms. The first phase of the study started in early August and involves 150 participants. The main phases of the study will begin in 2021 and will include around 3,000 people.
Participants will download a research app onto their iPhones and will be provided with an Apple Watch, as well as Apple's Beddit sleep tracking device, which will be used to collect data on their sleep patterns, heart rates, exercise and other daily routines. Participants will also be required to complete a number of questionnaires and interviews throughout the study.
UCLA notes that methods for detecting depression haven't changed much over the past century.
"Current approaches to treating depression rely almost entirely on the subjective recollections of depression sufferers," said Dr. Nelson Freimer, the study's lead researcher. "This is an important step for obtaining objective and precise measurements that guide both diagnosis and treatment."
The researchers hope the study findings could provide healthcare workers with a better way to identify the early warning signs of depression and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
"We envision a future in which these tools will become indispensable for depression sufferers and those providing them care," Freimer said.
This isn't the first time the Apple Watch has been used in a health study. In 2017, Apple worked with Stanford University School of Medicine on the Apple Heart Study, finding that wearable devices can help detect irregular heart beats. The Apple Watch is also one of several devices currently being used to test whether wearables can detect COVID-19 symptoms before people become aware of them.
