Brain implants and wearables to monitor and help severe bipolar depression
Building Mood State Classifiers to Inform Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11178411
This project uses an implanted brain stimulator together with phone and wearable data to detect mood patterns and help people whose bipolar depression hasn't responded to other treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11178411 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll receive a sensing-capable deep brain stimulation device placed in a mood-related brain area (ventral capsule/ventral striatum). The device's brain signals will be time-locked with data from a smartphone app and wearables like an Apple Watch to capture sleep, activity, and behavior. Researchers will use those data to build computerized mood classifiers that identify depression, mania, and mixed states and track transitions over time. Much of the monitoring happens remotely, with regular clinic visits for surgery and follow-up.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with bipolar disorder whose depression has not improved after multiple standard treatments and who are willing and medically able to undergo DBS surgery and device monitoring.
Not a fit: People with milder bipolar symptoms, those who are not surgical candidates, unwilling to use a smartphone or wearable, or with major medical contraindications may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable more precise, timely brain stimulation and personalized care that reduces severe, treatment-resistant depressive episodes.
How similar studies have performed: Deep brain stimulation has helped some people with severe mood disorders in prior studies but results are mixed, and combining chronic brain sensing with wearables is a newer approach with limited early promising evidence.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GOODMAN, WAYNE K — BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: GOODMAN, WAYNE K
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Bipolar Disorder