DEW study findings may allow health care professionals to provide better care for their patients by better predicting upcoming depressive episodes, identifying individual risk factors for depression and monitoring how patients respond to treatment.
Major depression affects about seven to 18 per cent of children and youth. Suicide, which can be a severe consequence of major depression, is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 to 29. Of youth who experience a depressive episode, more than half are likely to have recurring episodes into adulthood.
Currently, not much is known about why youth depression begins, the likelihood that a young person will relapse after getting better, or appropriate prevention strategies. But earlier intervention can decrease the likelihood of future episodes and the development of more severe symptoms.
Depression research is exploring techniques that resonate with youth, such as mobile and wearable technologies, that may lead to improved diagnostic and treatment practices. The widespread use of smartphones by young people sets the stage for their use to study youth mood and behaviour.
In the DEW study, participants between the ages of 12 and 21 will wear a GENEActiv device on their wrist, which is similar to activity trackers such as Fitbit. GENEActiv devices are well suited to research initiatives, as they can collect large amounts of data on various measures with minimal battery usage. The devices reliably record physical activity and sleep habits, both of which can create a profile of a person’s behaviours and help pinpoint unusual periods of inactivity or problematic sleep patterns. While periods of reduced physical activity and sleep problems are quite common, persistent periods may indicate changes in mood and the onset of depression.
Additionally, DEW participants’ smartphones will collect other physical activity data, and prompt individuals to complete online questionnaires as part of an “electronic diary.” Individuals will submit information about their current mood, health, routines and daily life events, all of which will help track changes in wellbeing. A mobile app will also record frequency of phone use, which can allow researchers to approximate a person’s amount of social engagement. All of this information may be useful in predicting the onset of a depressive episode and can demonstrate a clear pattern of one’s depressive behaviours.
