You might not have ever thought that the smartphone in your pocket can be the vital key to gauging your mental health. A mobile app, PROSIT, has been developed by researchers at Dalhousie University which can detect different conditions of humans such as anxiety or depression based on how any of the user uses the phone. The app is also responsible for tracking different human activities such as exercise, sleep, call frequency, message histories and music tastes, but also includes subtle data. For instance, the speed at which you type and the applied force can hint at an emotionally charged state.
It has been asked to users to go for recording a 90-second audio clip where they can describe the most exciting part of their week, and to self-report their feelings on a scale of five.
PROSIT, is being tested by about 300 people, where half of which are patients and elder group of people.
Before the question arises: the scientists are very much well aware of the privacy concerns which is involved in tracking half of the things which you would do online. The data gets stored in a secure location and using the app requires signing a consent form. You’re unlikely to see unrestricted use as a result, if just because the potential for stealing profile data is very real.
Still, on a good note theses apps could play a major role for addressing mental health. While PROSIT is not responsible for providing a complete picture of a person’s mental wellbeing, it could be of utmost important to psychologists for tracking and better understanding of their patients’ development outside of sessions — which is very much important during a pandemic, where because of safety patients might only have periodic consultancies from their doctor. At least for those patients who agree to be tracked in the first place, this could lead to more targeted and effective treatments, .