Using smartphones to understand behavior and emotions in major depression
Official title: Remote computational phenotyping of behavioral and affective dynamics in major depression
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10893402 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using smartphones can help us learn more about the feelings and behaviors of people with major depression, so we can find better treatments that fit each person's unique experience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $747,595 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH124110-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893402 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with major depression who are willing to use a smartphone for data collection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have major depression or those who are unable or unwilling to use a smartphone may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how smartphones can be used to collect data on behavioral and emotional patterns in individuals with major depression. By utilizing gamified tasks, participants will engage in activities that measure decision-making and emotional responses over time. The goal is to better understand the variability in depressive symptoms and how they relate to underlying behavioral dynamics. This approach aims to provide a more accurate way to match patients with effective treatments based on their unique symptom profiles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for individuals suffering from major depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using technology for behavioral assessments in mental health, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rutledge, Robb Brooks — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Rutledge, Robb Brooks
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A large genetics study is exploring what makes extreme forms of major depression unique, by studying many thousands of people and their DNA.
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Understanding immune dysfunction and social stress in veterans with depression
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Risk pathways to major depression using big Danish and Swedish data
A large study using health and genetic data from Denmark and Sweden will help understand what genetic and environmental factors contribute to major depression across how people grow up.
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Understanding genetic and environmental pathways to major depression in Nordic health records
A large study will look at how genes and life experiences combine over time to influence major depression, using Danish and Swedish population data.
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.