Study on Activity Tracker Apps and Wearables for Mental Health

Technological Innovations in the Last Decade

A recent study examined the effectiveness of activity tracker apps and wearables in predicting symptoms of common mental health disorders. As we near the end of the decade, technological advancements continue to emerge daily. Reflecting on the past decade reveals significant growth in smartphone technology, with the capabilities of current devices being remarkable compared to those from two or three decades ago.

The global ownership of smartphones is on the rise, with estimates suggesting that around 62% of the world population owns one. This figure is projected to reach 67% by 2019. As smartphones become more affordable and prevalent, their clinical potential remains largely unexplored.

Potential of Activity Tracker Apps in Symptom Prediction

Given their integral role in daily life, smartphones may serve as valuable tools for identifying symptoms and predicting mental health disorders. Activity tracker apps, such as Moves or MyFitnessPal, can offer crucial data regarding a person’s activity level, aiding healthcare practitioners in assessing potential pathology or distress. Similarly, wearable devices like Fitbit provide real-time information about daily activities.

To evaluate this concept, an Australian research team surveyed 53 young adults aged 18 to 25, collecting data from various activity tracker apps and wearables. As reported in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the researchers found that allowing participants to select their app or device did not compromise the results and actually fostered a more realistic interpretation of the data. This approach contrasts with traditional methods that involve providing a specific device, which can lead to high costs and inconvenience for patients.

Findings on Activity Levels and Anxiety Symptoms

The researchers made several noteworthy conclusions from the study. All participants reported moderate levels of psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Notably, those who utilized activity tracker apps for more than 45 days exhibited a correlation between increased anxiety and irregular activity patterns. This suggests a link between decreased activity regularity and heightened anxiety symptoms.

Comparison of Wearables and Activity Tracker Apps

Additionally, the study indicated that wearables resulted in significantly higher daily activity levels compared to activity tracker apps. This difference may stem from the greater convenience offered by wearables. However, the researchers acknowledged that variations in how different apps measure exercise intensity could also play a role. The study did not explore these parameters, leaving the relationship between wearables and activity levels unclear.

Implications for Future Research and Clinical Practice

While the study did not establish a causal link, it highlighted the potential for smartphones and wearables to assist in understanding, predicting, and treating common mental health disorders, which collectively cost over $150 billion annually worldwide. Clinicians are encouraged to consider incorporating real-time activity tracking into treatment strategies.

Further research is essential to identify stronger correlations or causative patterns between tracked activity and mental health outcomes. The authors recommend conducting randomized control trials and studying larger sample sizes to enhance the findings. Utilizing smartphone apps and wearables presents opportunities for analyzing larger groups while also allowing individuals to reflect on their activity levels in relation to personal experiences. This approach could improve the efficacy of therapy sessions and enhance individuals’ self-management capabilities.

Related Topics of Interest

– Can wearable activity monitors help monitor cancer development?
– Do wearable defibrillators save lives?
– New wearable device tracks UV exposure.
– Wearable sensors to detect early signs of anxiety in children are in development.
– Smartphones are more useful than wearables as remote patient monitoring devices.
– Wearable devices can detect COVID-19.
– Top Benefits of Wearable Technology in Home-Based Healthcare.

Reference

Knight, Alissa, and Niranjan Bidargaddi. “Commonly Available Activity Tracker Apps and Wearables as a Mental Health Outcome Indicator: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study among Young Adults with Psychological Distress.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 236, 2018, pp. 31–36., doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.099.