June 14, 2023
Participants in Project Sheria who used Garmin smartwatches to track their physiological data were less likely to report symptoms of major depressive disorder.
According to recent information, report According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a 25% increase in depression and anxiety worldwide. But the situation is not hopeless. A recent study showed that participants wearing Garmin smartwatches to track physiological data were less likely to report symptoms of major depressive disorder. This study was the result of collaboration with: lab front, thought out Combined therapy with physiologic data monitoring and Garmin to know how individuals respond to treatment.dubbing project sheriaResearch has found that Garmin smartwatch wearers track physical data such as sleep duration and quality, stress, steps taken, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV).1showed a 37% improvement in a self-reported health questionnaire tracking major depressive disorder.
project sheria
Mental health issues can lead to significant workplace challenges by reducing productivity through absenteeism and presenteeism. Digital mental health interventions can help avoid the stigma surrounding mental health by providing discreet access to advice and support and enabling personalization. project sheria Combining the power of smartwatches and virtual therapy to offer a new end-to-end approach to mental health care.
The project includes Labfront, a project management and physiological data platform that allows researchers to monitor research participants in real-world settings using consumer-based wearables such as Garmin smartwatches, and employers and insurance companies. Includes ThoughtFull, Asia’s pioneering digital mental health company in partnership with Pharmaceutical companies provide access to end-to-end mental health care.
Using Garmin Technology for Mental Health Research
The project selected 124 participants based on several criteria, including Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores. PHQ-9 is the complete PHQ Major Depressive Disorder module. Individual scores range from 0 to 27. The higher the score, the more severe the depressive disorder. Participants in this study had scores ranging from 0 to 9, indicating normal to mild symptoms of major depressive disorder.
Participants in the intervention group wore Garmin Venu® Sq GPS smartwatches to track physical data including sleep duration and quality, stress, steps taken, resting heart rate, and HRV. The Labfront platform is Garmin Health API and the Companion SDK It provides more detailed data and enables more detailed analysis.
“We chose Garmin because we needed the ability to access detailed beat-to-beat data via Labfront to derive HRV,” said Labfront CEO Chris Peng. HRV appears to be strongly correlated with depression. Studies have shown that patients with major depression have lower HRV than healthy controls. Conversely, elevated or increased HRV correlates with positive mood, positive emotional regulation, flexibility, and social engagement.
Participants in both the intervention and control groups were given access to the ThoughtFullChat app. The app is a subscription-based mobile her platform that allows users to work on their mental health through self-reporting, guided lessons, and text-based coaching from certified mental health professionals.
“Recognizing that much of mental health insight still relies heavily on subjective data, ThoughtFull is committed to integrating objective data into intervention methodologies to enable clinicians to delve deeper into their clients’ well-being and progress.” I wanted to strengthen the ability of joan lowe said, Thought Full CEO. “Labfront’s platform and Garmin wearables were the perfect choice for detailed data collection and analysis to achieve our intended results.”
Mental Health Insights Using Physiological Markers
Project Sheria found that users in the intervention group experienced a significant improvement of 37% in PHQ-9 scores compared to the control group, which did not show significant improvement. This study shows that incorporating physical activity, sleep quality, heart rate data and subjective patient feedback from Garmin wearables may enhance digital mental health interventions. Additionally, users gain greater insight into their mental health and can leverage their physiological markers to take action.
Encouraged by these results, future research will focus on whether physiological factors such as activity, sleep and heart rate can be used to predict mood and depression, thereby allowing medical professionals to intervene and Focus on whether the patient can be prompted for advice or suggestions, such as increased physical activity.
Interested in learning more about related projects? Then read onthis blogLearn more about collaborations aimed at predicting depression for future prevention or Garmin Health Click here for research projects.
1Garmin devices are not designed or intended to monitor or diagnose any disease or medical condition.Find information aboutMetric accuracy is here.
As an additional resource, the health research community is invited to attend our upcoming event.Garmin Health Research WebinarJuly 19th 4:00 PM CST / 9:00 AM CST. A 45-minute webinar provides unique insight into Garmin’s latest sensor technology updates. Learn about the unique challenges of research and how Garmin wearable devices can help you overcome them.Researchers interested in participating should registerhere.
