SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder

Background Digital assessment of behaviours, including physical activity, sleep, and social interactions could be associated with changes in mood and other mental health symptoms. This study assessed the safety, feasibility, acceptability, and potential predictive value of passive and active sensing...

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Main Authors: Andres Camargo, Scott D Tagliaferri, Simon D’Alfonso, Tianyi Zhang, Zamantha Munoz, Pemma Davies, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Niels van Berkel, Vassilis Kostakos, Lianne Schmaal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251330509
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author Andres Camargo
Scott D Tagliaferri
Simon D’Alfonso
Tianyi Zhang
Zamantha Munoz
Pemma Davies
Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
Niels van Berkel
Vassilis Kostakos
Lianne Schmaal
author_facet Andres Camargo
Scott D Tagliaferri
Simon D’Alfonso
Tianyi Zhang
Zamantha Munoz
Pemma Davies
Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
Niels van Berkel
Vassilis Kostakos
Lianne Schmaal
author_sort Andres Camargo
collection DOAJ
description Background Digital assessment of behaviours, including physical activity, sleep, and social interactions could be associated with changes in mood and other mental health symptoms. This study assessed the safety, feasibility, acceptability, and potential predictive value of passive and active sensing in young people with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Over eight weeks, passive (smartphone sensing, actigraphy) and active (ecological momentary assessment; EMA) data were collected from 40 young participants with MDD (aged 16–25 years). We assessed the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of daily active and passive sensing in this population. Additionally, linear mixed models and correlation analysis explored associations between passive and active sensing measures. Results Of the 48 young participants, 83% (n = 40) completed the full protocol. No adverse events were reported. Over eight weeks, participants averaged 35.9 days (65.3%) with EMAs and 37.9 days (69%) with actigraphy data. Smartphone sensors recorded communication for 21.1 days (38.4%), location for 43.1 days (78.4%), maximum unlock duration for 43.4 days (79%), social media use for 34.8 days (63.3%), and inter-key delay for 32.8 days (59.6%). Regarding acceptability, 83.1% found the application usable and comfortable. Secondary measures showed significant correlations between sleep and physical activity, and between location and phone use sensors. There was a significant negative association between daily positive mood ratings and QIDS total scores (Beta coefficient [95% CI]: 2.66 [−3.98, −1.34]; p = 0.002). Conclusion Passive and active sensing methods were safe, and acceptable among young people with MDD.
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spelling doaj-art-5a5432fd8f794b7bb7b4ead37ff3f5812025-08-20T03:48:31ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-04-011110.1177/20552076251330509SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorderAndres Camargo0Scott D Tagliaferri1Simon D’Alfonso2Tianyi Zhang3Zamantha Munoz4Pemma Davies5Mario Alvarez-Jimenez6Niels van Berkel7Vassilis Kostakos8Lianne Schmaal9 Orygen, Parkville, Australia Orygen, Parkville, Australia School of Computing and Information Systems, , Parkville, Australia School of Computing and Information Systems, , Parkville, Australia Orygen, Parkville, Australia Orygen, Parkville, Australia Orygen, Parkville, Australia Department of Computer Science, , Aalborg, Denmark School of Computing and Information Systems, , Parkville, Australia Orygen, Parkville, AustraliaBackground Digital assessment of behaviours, including physical activity, sleep, and social interactions could be associated with changes in mood and other mental health symptoms. This study assessed the safety, feasibility, acceptability, and potential predictive value of passive and active sensing in young people with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Over eight weeks, passive (smartphone sensing, actigraphy) and active (ecological momentary assessment; EMA) data were collected from 40 young participants with MDD (aged 16–25 years). We assessed the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of daily active and passive sensing in this population. Additionally, linear mixed models and correlation analysis explored associations between passive and active sensing measures. Results Of the 48 young participants, 83% (n = 40) completed the full protocol. No adverse events were reported. Over eight weeks, participants averaged 35.9 days (65.3%) with EMAs and 37.9 days (69%) with actigraphy data. Smartphone sensors recorded communication for 21.1 days (38.4%), location for 43.1 days (78.4%), maximum unlock duration for 43.4 days (79%), social media use for 34.8 days (63.3%), and inter-key delay for 32.8 days (59.6%). Regarding acceptability, 83.1% found the application usable and comfortable. Secondary measures showed significant correlations between sleep and physical activity, and between location and phone use sensors. There was a significant negative association between daily positive mood ratings and QIDS total scores (Beta coefficient [95% CI]: 2.66 [−3.98, −1.34]; p = 0.002). Conclusion Passive and active sensing methods were safe, and acceptable among young people with MDD.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251330509
spellingShingle Andres Camargo
Scott D Tagliaferri
Simon D’Alfonso
Tianyi Zhang
Zamantha Munoz
Pemma Davies
Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
Niels van Berkel
Vassilis Kostakos
Lianne Schmaal
SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
Digital Health
title SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
title_full SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
title_fullStr SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
title_full_unstemmed SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
title_short SmartSense-D: A safety, feasibility, and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
title_sort smartsense d a safety feasibility and acceptability pilot study of digital phenotyping in young people with major depressive disorder
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251330509
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