Depression is a mental illness characterized by low mood. According to the Mayo Clinic, it “causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in different activities.” Over time, healthcare professionals have developed different treatments to help people. But, In many cases, symptoms are often difficult to prevent or identify.
Now technology has advanced and A group of researchers has developed an app that can detect depression using only the mobile device’s camera. This innovation may contribute to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of this emotional disorder.
Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 280 million people in the world suffer from this disease. The same report also reveals that 4.7 percent of Colombians, that is, 2 million 425 thousand people, are depressed.
(Keep reading: This is how what we eat affects our mental health).
‘MoodCapture’ opens the door to real-time digital assistance in treating mental health cases. According to an article by the American university Dartmouth College, researchers from the institution reported that they developed it. First mobile app to use artificial intelligence and image processing software to detect depressioneven before the user is diagnosed.
The application will be able to capture the expressions of the person and his/her surroundings thanks to the front camera. “Later, evaluates images for clinical signs associated with depression. In a study of 177 people diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the app accurately detected the first symptoms of depression with 75 percent accuracy,” the university paper explains.
“A person simply needs to unlock their phone for ‘MoodCapture’ to identify symptoms of depression and suggest they seek help,” says Andrew Campbell, one of the developers of the ‘app’.
(We recommend reading: Why can millionaires and famous people become depressed?).
He or she will also be responsible for recommending preventive measures, such as talking to a friend and spending time outside.
In its creation, artificial intelligence was used to analyze images and design a predictive model. That’s why ‘MoodCapture’ Can identify signs of depression in certain facial expressionsSuch as gaze, eye movement and muscle stiffness.
“If we use this to predict and understand changes in symptoms of depression, we can prevent and treat them. The faster we can detect them, the less impact depression will have,” study co-author Nicholas Jacobson, of Dartmouth College, said in the paper.
(Interesting: Activities that can effectively treat depression, according to a study)
According to the university, this technology will be available to the public within the next five years.
Despite the usefulness of this ‘app’, Remember the importance of diagnosis by healthcare professionals. If you have symptoms of depression, be sure to consult a professional so they can guide you through your process. It is always important to have an expert’s assessment.
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SOFIA ARIAS MARTINEZ
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Source: Exame
