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Zierer C, Behrendt C, Lepach-Engelhardt AC. Digital biomarkers in depression: A systematic review and call for standardization and harmonization of feature engineering. J Affect Disord 2024; 356:438-449. [PMID: 38583596 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND General physicians misclassify depression in more than half of the cases. Researchers have explored the feasibility of leveraging passively collected data points, also called digital biomarkers, to provide more granular understanding of depression phenotypes as well as a more objective assessment of disease. METHOD This paper provides a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines (Page et al., 2021) to understand which digital biomarkers might be relevant for passive screening of depression. Pubmed and PsycInfo were systematically searched for studies published from 2019 to early 2024, resulting in 161 records assessed for eligibility. Excluded were intervention studies, studies focusing on a different disease or those with a lack of passive data collection. 74 studies remained for a quality assessment, after which 27 studies were included. RESULTS The review shows that depressed participants' real-life behavior such as reduced communication with others can be tracked by passive data. Machine learning models for the classification of depression have shown accuracies up to 0.98, surpassing the quality of many standardized assessment methods. LIMITATIONS Inconsistency of outcome reporting of current studies does not allow for drawing statistical conclusions regarding effectiveness of individual included features. The Covid-19 pandemic might have impacted the ongoing studies between 2020 and 2022. CONCLUSION While digital biomarkers allow real-life tracking of participant's behavior and symptoms, further work is required to align the feature engineering of digital biomarkers. With shown high accuracies of assessments, connecting digital biomarkers with clinical practice can be a promising method of detecting symptoms of depression automatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Zierer
- Department of Psychology, PFH Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Corinna Behrendt
- Department of Psychology, PFH Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany.
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Monaco F, Vignapiano A, Piacente M, Farina F, Pagano C, Marenna A, Leo S, Vecchi C, Mancuso C, Prisco V, Iodice D, Auricchio A, Cavaliere R, D'Agosto A, Fornaro M, Solmi M, Corrivetti G, Fasano A. Innova4Health: an integrated approach for prevention of recurrence and personalized treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. Front Artif Intell 2024; 7:1366055. [PMID: 38774832 PMCID: PMC11106633 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2024.1366055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent mental health condition characterized by persistent low mood, cognitive and physical symptoms, anhedonia (loss of interest in activities), and suicidal ideation. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts depression will become the leading cause of disability by 2030. While biological markers remain essential for understanding MDD's pathophysiology, recent advancements in social signal processing and environmental monitoring hold promise. Wearable technologies, including smartwatches and air purifiers with environmental sensors, can generate valuable digital biomarkers for depression assessment in real-world settings. Integrating these with existing physical, psychopathological, and other indices (autoimmune, inflammatory, neuroradiological) has the potential to improve MDD recurrence prevention strategies. Methods This prospective, randomized, interventional, and non-pharmacological integrated study aims to evaluate digital and environmental biomarkers in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with MDD who are currently taking medication. The study implements a sensor-integrated platform built around an open-source "Pothos" air purifier system. This platform is designed for scalability and integration with third-party devices. It accomplishes this through software interfaces, a dedicated app, sensor signal pre-processing, and an embedded deep learning AI system. The study will enroll two experimental groups (10 adolescents and 30 young adults each). Within each group, participants will be randomly allocated to Group A or Group B. Only Group B will receive the technological equipment (Pothos system and smartwatch) for collecting digital biomarkers. Blood and saliva samples will be collected at baseline (T0) and endpoint (T1) to assess inflammatory markers and cortisol levels. Results Following initial age-based stratification, the sample will undergo detailed classification at the 6-month follow-up based on remission status. Digital and environmental biomarker data will be analyzed to explore intricate relationships between these markers, depression symptoms, disease progression, and early signs of illness. Conclusion This study seeks to validate an AI tool for enhancing early MDD clinical management, implement an AI solution for continuous data processing, and establish an AI infrastructure for managing healthcare Big Data. Integrating innovative psychophysical assessment tools into clinical practice holds significant promise for improving diagnostic accuracy and developing more specific digital devices for comprehensive mental health evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Monaco
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Annarita Vignapiano
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Martina Piacente
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Federica Farina
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Claudio Pagano
- Innovation Technology e Sviluppo (I.T.Svil), Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marenna
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Stefano Leo
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Corrado Vecchi
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Carlo Mancuso
- Innovation Technology e Sviluppo (I.T.Svil), Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Davide Iodice
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Cavaliere
- Ufficio Trasferimento Tecnologico, Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, Cassino, Italy
| | - Amelia D'Agosto
- Istituto Polidiagnostico D'Agosto & Marino, Nocera Inferiore, Italy
| | - Michele Fornaro
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Odontostomatology, Clinical Section of Psychiatry and Psychology, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Solmi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, On Track: The Champlain First Episode Psychosis Program, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Giulio Corrivetti
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessio Fasano
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Boston, MA, United States
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
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Posselt J, Baumann E, Dierks ML. A qualitative interview study of patients' attitudes towards and intention to use digital interventions for depressive disorders on prescription. Front Digit Health 2024; 6:1275569. [PMID: 38375490 PMCID: PMC10875127 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1275569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Depressive disorders are an emerging public health topic. Due to their increasing prevalence, patients with depressive disorders suffer from the lack of therapeutic treatment. Digital health interventions may offer an opportunity to bridge waiting times, supplement, or even substitute in-person treatment. Among others, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) explains that actual technology use is affected by users' behavioural intention. However, patients' perspectives on digital interventions are rarely discussed within the specific context of primary care provided by general practitioners (GP) and need further exploration. Method A qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews was used to explore DTx-acceptance of patients with mild or moderate depression (n = 17). The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and thematically analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results Patients' performance expectancies reveal that DTx are not perceived as a substitute for face-to-face treatment. Effort expectancies include potential advantages and efforts concerning technical, motivational, and skill-based aspects. Moreover, we identified health status and experience with depressive disorders as other determinants and potential barriers to patients' DTx acceptance: Difficult stages of depression or long-time experience are perceived hurdles for DTx use. GPs' recommendations were just partly relevant for patients and varied according to patients' consultancy preferences. But still, GPs have a crucial role for access due to prescription. GPs' influence on patients' DTx acceptance varies between three situations: (1) pre-use for consultation, (2) pre-use for access and (3) during DTx-use. Further, GPs' guidance could be especially relevant for patients during DTx-use in routine care. Discussion The UTAUT-based exploration suggests that acceptance determinants should be considered independently and embedded in personal and situational aspects. DTx require a healthcare professional to prescribe or diagnose the disease, unlike other digital offerings. We identified prescription- and depression-related determinants, exceeding existing theoretical constructs. GPs' guidance can compensate for some barriers to DTx use e.g., by increasing commitment and motivational support to strengthen patients' acceptance. Conclusion We argue for a multidimensional integration of acceptance determinants for further development of health technology acceptance research. Future research should specify how DTx can be integrated into routine care to strengthen user acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Posselt
- Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eva Baumann
- Department of Journalism and Communication Research, Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Dierks
- Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Biskupiak Z, Ha VV, Rohaj A, Bulaj G. Digital Therapeutics for Improving Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Biological Products: Preclinical and Clinical Studies Supporting Development of Drug + Digital Combination Therapies for Chronic Diseases. J Clin Med 2024; 13:403. [PMID: 38256537 PMCID: PMC10816409 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Limitations of pharmaceutical drugs and biologics for chronic diseases (e.g., medication non-adherence, adverse effects, toxicity, or inadequate efficacy) can be mitigated by mobile medical apps, known as digital therapeutics (DTx). Authorization of adjunct DTx by the US Food and Drug Administration and draft guidelines on "prescription drug use-related software" illustrate opportunities to create drug + digital combination therapies, ultimately leading towards drug-device combination products (DTx has a status of medical devices). Digital interventions (mobile, web-based, virtual reality, and video game applications) demonstrate clinically meaningful benefits for people living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, depression, and anxiety. In the respective animal disease models, preclinical studies on environmental enrichment and other non-pharmacological modalities (physical activity, social interactions, learning, and music) as surrogates for DTx "active ingredients" also show improved outcomes. In this narrative review, we discuss how drug + digital combination therapies can impact translational research, drug discovery and development, generic drug repurposing, and gene therapies. Market-driven incentives to create drug-device combination products are illustrated by Humira® (adalimumab) facing a "patent-cliff" competition with cheaper and more effective biosimilars seamlessly integrated with DTx. In conclusion, pharma and biotech companies, patients, and healthcare professionals will benefit from accelerating integration of digital interventions with pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Biskupiak
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Victor Vinh Ha
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Aarushi Rohaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Grzegorz Bulaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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