Wearable device to monitor social interactions in schizophrenia
SCH: Acoustic Sensing-Based Wearable system for Monitoring Social Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
This study is testing a new wearable device that helps track how close people with schizophrenia get to others during social interactions, which could help improve their treatment and overall quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10440392 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a wearable device that uses acoustic signals to monitor social interactions in individuals with schizophrenia. By quantifying the physical distance maintained during social interactions, the study aims to understand how these behaviors correlate with clinical symptoms and treatment outcomes. The device will be worn around the neck and will measure distances to multiple people with high accuracy, providing valuable data on social functioning. This information could lead to better-targeted therapies and improved quality of life for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience challenges in social interactions.
Not a fit: Patients without a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those who do not have difficulties with social interactions may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the understanding of social dysfunction in schizophrenia and lead to improved therapeutic interventions.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using wearable technology for monitoring social behavior is gaining traction, this specific application in schizophrenia is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Sunghoon — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Lee, Sunghoon
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.