The UCLA Depression Grand Challenge has completed data collection for the National Digital Mental Health Study, conducted in collaboration with Apple, a nationwide research effort designed to better understand how symptoms of depression and anxiety may be measured using data from everyday digital devices. 

Leveraging digital sensors in iPhone and Apple Watch, researchers obtained objective, everyday measures — such as sleep, heart rate, movement, and facial expression — from a diverse sample of 699 participants from across the U.S. Each data type was structured to protect participant privacy and required individual consent. The DGC surpassed its recruitment target of 600 study completers by 16.5%. 

With data collection now complete, the NDMH enters data analysis phase. Like the Digital Mental Health Study launched in 2020, researchers will be examining the relationship between objective data gathered by sensors and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety.  —  now with an eye to understanding how findings from a diverse national sample compare to DMHS findings, which recruited from UCLA Health systems and the UCLA student body.

Establishing connections between objective data and individuals’ mental health symptoms could allow clinicians to intervene earlier to reduce or even prevent the onset of depressive episodes and track the effectiveness of treatment. In addition, objective measures could more precisely characterize the physiological, behavioral and emotional components of depression and anxiety, which may help develop more effective treatments, predict patient outcomes and understand the underlying causes of these conditions.