Advancing digital sensing in mental health research
Samir Akre1,2, Darsol Seok2,3, Christopher Douglas2,4
1Medical Informatics Home Area, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
NPJ Digital Medicine
|December 18, 2024
Summary
Digital sensing tools can revolutionize mental health research through scalable data collection. Addressing challenges in data standards and study power is crucial for equitable and impactful research outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Digital health
- Mental health research
- Wearable technology
Background:
- Digital sensing tools, including smartphones and wearables, present significant opportunities for large-scale, long-term mental health data collection.
- Current research faces hurdles such as inconsistent data standards, insufficient study power, and a gap between research objectives and community requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline strategies for overcoming challenges in digital sensing for mental health research.
- To promote rigorous, equitable, and impactful research using digital tools.
Main Methods:
- The report is based on discussions and findings from the 2023 Workshop on Advancing Digital Sensing Tools for Mental Health.
- Strategies were developed through expert consensus and collaborative problem-solving.
Main Results:
- Identified key challenges in data standardization, study design, and community engagement for digital mental health research.
- Proposed actionable strategies to enhance the quality, equity, and impact of research utilizing digital sensing technologies.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming current limitations is essential to fully leverage digital sensing tools for advancing mental health research.
- Implementing standardized practices and community-centered approaches will ensure the responsible and effective use of these technologies.
