Smartphone Shrink: 5 Apps To Help Your Mental Health

Northwestern University researchers recently launched Mobilyze, an app that tracks users' behavior patterns and moods to identify states that trigger depression before it happens. The app gathers data from more than 40 sensors including GPS, accelerometer, and Wi-Fi, which it uses to figure out the user's activity level and location. This data, combined with information the users supply about their mood and social context, identifies situations in which people are likely to become depressed and reminds them to take action that might prevent it, such as going outside or visiting friends. Alternatively, when users are doing well and adhering to their treatment goals, the app offers positive reinforcement in the form of text messages or email kudos.

And while it might incorrectly interpret a lazy Sunday at home as a potential bout of depression, Northwestern psychologist and Mobilyze creator David Mohr says they want this to happen. "We recognize the system will get it wrong sometimes, but we hope it does, because we're trying to treat people." Mohr says the system will constantly learn and recalibrate, so that next time it will know not to send a reminder under these circumstances.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/smartphone-shrink-5-apps-to-help-your-mental-health?src=rss

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