Mental health conditions are prevalent on a global scale, with 1 in every 8 people living with a mental disorder, and among them, anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common. Acute stress is also becoming a more common issue in the modern world caused by physical and emotional stressors, which can increase risks for certain diseases such as cardiovascular conditions.
With the heightened incidence of mental health issues, researchers are trying to create more compact, portable, and accurate technology to monitor stress and mental health status. Hence, there has been an increase in the production of smart devices and wearable technologies that help monitor mental health and stress for detection and ensuing management of the said conditions.
A 2021 review from PubMed Central examined the types of current smart devices and wearable technologies used to detect or monitor mental health issues such as depression, stress, and anxiety and the physiological process(es) linked to their detection.
The 2021 review of 21 studies found that devices could detect stress and anxiety symptoms by monitoring heart rate and breathing. The crucial finding of the study also includes the type of wearable device, the physiological process used to detect anxiety, depression, and stress, and whether the device is commercially available.
From the 21 studies reviewed, several wearables that detect stress, anxiety, and depression were identified. Some of these devices and the physiological process(es) they use in detection are as follows:
After a thorough assessment of 21 studies, the researchers found that several wearable technologies exist in the market which helps detects certain medical conditions, including stress, depression, and anxiety.
The review found that devices could detect stress and anxiety symptoms by monitoring heart rate and breathing. Some of these devices include wearable EEG and ECG such as:
A 2019 study suggested that wearable brain-sensing devices can potentially help promote objective response to stress by increasing one’s knowledge of dysfunctional hyperactivation’s EEG signature. Cardiac activity has also been used as a common objective physiological measure of anxiety.
Several wearables are used to measure respiratory rate and its variability to detect stress and anxiety symptoms, including:
Wearables and devices are also used to measure integumentary systems to detect stress and anxiety, including skin conductance and temperature. Some of these wearables are:
Based on the features of the wearables and devices mentioned above and the physiological processes they measure, the researchers concluded that HRV could be considered the most useful physiological measure for detecting stress and anxiety.
With the continuous increase in the incidence of mental illness, the demand for developing technology that can help people deal with mental health conditions is on the rise.
Much work is being put into developing new technology, such as wearables, to detect potential mental health reactions conveniently and faster. The devices and the new technology offer many benefits, including cost reduction and improved accessibility of mental care.
However, people who decide to use wearables should still be mindful of the pros and cons before using them as a mental health aid or overall method of care.
Hickey, B. A., Chalmers, T., Newton, P., Lin, C.-T., Sibbritt, D., McLachlan, C. S., Clifton-Bligh, R., Morley, J., & Lal, S. (2021). Smart Devices and wearable technologies to detect and monitor mental health conditions and stress: A systematic review. Sensors, 21(10), 3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21103461