A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital shows that physical activity trackers could help detect mood swings in people with bipolar disorder, making it easier to manage the condition. The research, published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, found that data from fitness trackers can accurately detect periods of depression (80.1% accuracy) and mania (89.1% accuracy).
«Most people already use smartphones and smart watches that track their daily activity,» explained Dr. Jessica Lipschitz, lead author of the study.
«We wanted to see if this everyday data could help us identify when people with bipolar disorder were experiencing mood episodes. In the future, we hope that algorithms like ours can alert doctors when a patient’s mood changes, so they can quickly intervene and help.»
Bipolar disorder involves intense mood swings, from lows (depression) to highs (mania), and it is vital to identify and treat these episodes early. While previous studies have shown that digital devices can detect mood changes, they often rely on complex tools or invasive data collection, making them difficult to use in real-world healthcare settings. The nature of the use of easy-to-use and readily available fitness trackers is exciting, as it is a commonly used device today, already collecting data passively and non-invasively.
The researchers say their findings will bring us closer to creating practical tools for everyone, helping those who don’t have access to high-end devices or specialized care.
«These results are a step toward personalized tools that could work for all patients.»
they said.
A recent study found that even small increases in alcohol consumption can lead to long-lasting manic or depressive symptoms in people with bipolar disorder, regardless of the amount consumed. You can read more about the research here.
