It is appreciated that one of the obsessions that Apple has is that its devices can help improve health of people. Each new version of the Apple Watch includes something new in this regard.
Today we learned that a study has begun together with the University of California to find out the physiological behaviors of patients with depression and anxiety. Apple Watch and iPhone will be used to collect the study data. Bravo.
Apple just announced a new study to be carried out jointly with the University of California (UCLA). They want to find out how physiological factors such as sleep, physical activity, heart activity and daily routines can affect mental problems such as anxiety or depression.
For this study, which is expected to last three years, the data collected from the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Beddit sleep tracker, a startup that Apple acquired in 2017.
The university has already confirmed that the pilot phase of the study will begin this week and involves 150 participants recruited from UCLA University Hospital patients.
From there, the following phases of the investigation will expand to 3.000 participants both from the hospital and from the students themselves. Study participants will download an app to their iPhones, then receive a Beddit sleep monitor and an Apple Watch, which they can wear throughout the study.
El Dr John Torous, director of digital psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, says the study is just the beginning of expanded testing to understand how digital technology can play a role in improving mental health.
I think it's really exciting… This shows that digital mental health research is accelerating, and we are moving into the next phase of development… These are large-scale studies that really try to answer basic questions about whether these digital technologies will work. to help mental health
The study, unlike others conducted by Apple on health, will be limited to the faculty, students and patients from UCLA Health University Hospital.
