Depression is a silent killer and a serious threat to mental wellbeing , with individuals often putting up a facade to hide their inner turmoil. It becomes essential to detect the early signs of depression so that one can receive early treatments. A study revealed it could actually be possible through the usage of smartphones.
Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology conceptualised two smartphone apps that could soon help identify depression just by analyzing your face and eyes. This is a pioneering and groundbreaking moment, led by Professor Sang Won Bae and doctoral candidate Rahul Islam. It denotes a significant advancement in early mental health detection using AI.
Turning smartphones, which are widely accessible, into diagnostic tools to detect depression is a step forward in effective and convenient mental health screening and treatment. Researchers have developed two AI-powered apps to identify symptoms of depression. ALSO READ: Psychedelics can cure anxiety and depression? Here’s what recent study states Pupilsense- identifies depression through the eye Pupilsense detects depression through the changes in the eye.
It is done by drawing a comparison between the size of the pupil to the iris. Previous research also reiterated the association of pupillary reflexes with depressive episodes. The app works by capturing quick, 10-second snapshots of your eyes when you open or use your phone.
The study had 25 volunteers over four weeks and the app evaluated about .