Noninvasive Physiologic Sensors to Assess Depression

Inclusion criteria

Patients with Depression (n=40):

• Adults (ages 18-75),
• Able to read, understand, and provide written informed consent in English,
• Meet criteria for a primary psychiatric diagnosis of major depressive disorder for ≥ 4 weeks, according to the M.I.N.I (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview),
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) total score ≥ 18,
• Engaged in or willing to be referred for clinical care for depression treatment as usual (antidepressants and/or psychotherapy),
• Must have measurable skin conductance/electrodermal activity (as assessed at the screening visit),
• Must own a working Android smartphone (Android 2.3+) and use it regularly,
• Must own a windows PC (or tablet) or a Mac computer (or laptop),
• Must have access to Internet service every day.

Healthy Controls (n=10):

• Adults (ages 18-75),
• Able to read, understand, and provide written informed consent in English,
• Not meet criteria for past or current psychiatric illness, excluding specific phobias, as measured by the M.I.N.I.,
• Not have a first-degree relative with known major psychiatric illness including Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Psychotic Disorder or Substance Use Disorder,
• Must have measurable skin conductance/electrodermal activity (as assessed at the screening visit),
• Must own a working Android smartphone (Android 2.3+) and use it regularly,
• Must own a windows PC (or tablet) or a Mac computer (or laptop),
• Must have access to Internet service every day.

Exclusion criteria

(for all subjects):

• Active drug or alcohol use disorder in the past 3 months,
• History of psychosis,
• History of mania or hypomania,
• Epilepsy or history of seizures,
• Untreated hypothyroidism,
• Unstable medical disease,
• Cognitive impairment that would impede adherence to study procedures,
• Acute suicide or homicide risk,
• Current treatment with electroconvulsive therapy, vagal nerve stimulation therapy, deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or phototherapy,
• Concurrent participation in other research studies,
• Cannot comprehend or communicate in English,
• Lack of working smartphone or lack of daily access to Internet service,
• Inability to measure skin conductance/electrodermal activity (as assessed at the screening visit), and
• Inability or unwilling to, at minimum, wear the physiological sensor (E4) bands, fill out the surveys, and record a weekly diary.