Physiological monitoring, particularly for neuropsychiatric disorders, offers essential insights for early diagnosis and ongoing management. Neuropsychiatric conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease, often involve autonomic nervous system (ANS) irregularities and behavioral changes that can be tracked through physiological signals, such as heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate, and skin conductance【https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5995114/】.
Aberrations in physiology and behavior associated with neuropsychiatric illness that are detectable by sensors in smartphones and wearables
Illness |
Sensor type Accelerometry |
HR |
GPS |
Calls & SMS |
Stress & depression |
Disruptions in circadian rhythm and sleep |
Emotion mediates vagal tone which manifests as altered HRV |
Irregular travel routine |
Decreased social interactions |
Bipolar disorder |
Disruptions in circadian rhythm and sleep, locomotor agitation during manic episode |
ANS dysfunction via HRV measures |
Irregular travel routine |
Decreased or increased social interactions |
Schizophrenia |
Disruptions in circadian rhythm and sleep, locomotor agitation or catatonia, diminished overall activity |
ANS dysfunction via HRV measures |
Irregular travel routine |
Decreased social interactions |
PTSD |
Inconclusive evidence |
ANS dysfunction via HRV measures |
Inconclusive evidence |
Decreased social interactions |
Dementia |
Dementia Disruptions in circadian rhythm, diminished locomotor activity |
Inconclusive evidence |
Wandering away from home |
Decreased social interaction |
Parkinson’s disease |
Gait impairment, ataxia, dyskinesia |
ANS dysfunction via HRV measures |
Inconclusive evidence |
Voice features can indicate vocal impairment |
Digital devices, like pulse oximeters, enable real-time physiological monitoring, capturing changes in HR and SpO2 that reflect stress levels and mood variability. Such devices can passively track symptoms beyond clinical settings, providing valuable data for understanding the fluctuations of mental health conditions and supporting personalized treatment adjustments.