A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital shows that fitness trackers could help detect mood swings in people with bipolar disorder, making it easier to manage the condition. The research, published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, found that data from fitness trackers can accurately spot periods of depression (80.1% accuracy) and mania (89.1% accuracy).
“Most people already use smartphones and smartwatches that track their daily activity,” explained Dr. Jessica Lipschitz, the study’s lead author.
“We wanted to see if this everyday data could help us identify when people with bipolar disorder were experiencing mood episodes. In the future, we hope algorithms like ours can alert doctors when a patient’s mood changes, so they can step in quickly and help.”
Bipolar disorder involves intense mood swings, from lows (depression) to highs (mania), and it’s vital to identify and treat these episodes early. While previous studies have shown that digital devices can detect mood changes, they often rely on complex tools or invasive data collection, making them hard to use in real-world healthcare settings. The nature of using simple-to-use and easily available fitness trackers is exciting, as it’s a device commonly used nowadays, which already collects data passively and noninvasively.
The researchers say their findings will bring us closer to creating practical tools for everyone, which will aid those who do not have access to high-end devices or specialized care.
“These results are a step toward personalized tools that could work for all patients,”
they said.
A recent study found that even small increases in drinking can lead to lasting depressive or manic symptoms in people with bipolar, regardless of the amount consumed. You can read more about the research here.
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