A research team of Korea University Anam Hospital has found that depression and bipolar disorder patients can significantly reduce their symptoms by using smartphone-based digital therapeutics along with the existing medications.

Depression and bipolar disorder frequently recur even with drug treatment, and the need for new therapy is emerging due to the limitations of the existing drugs, the hospital said.

A research team of Professor Lee Heon-jeong of the Department of Psychiatry of Korea University Anam Hospital has shown that managing lifestyle with the medication and a smartphone application as digital therapeutics can reduce the recurrence of depression. (KUAH)

The research team, led by Professor Lee Heon-jeong of the Department of Psychiatry of Korea University Anam Hospital (KUAH), has developed the technology to predict the recurrence of depression and bipolar disorder by using smart bands and smartphones on the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) in April 2019.

As a follow-up, it recently published a study, which applied Circadian Rhythm for Mood (CRM), a digital therapeutics, on 73 patients with a mood disorder for a year and proved therapeutic effectiveness through analysis. The researchers followed up the recurrence pattern for one year in 14 patients of the CRM group who received both drug treatment and digital therapy and 59 patients of the non-CRM group who only took drugs.

They confirmed the yearly average recurrence rate of the non-CRM group was 2 while the CRM group was 0.6, by statistically comparing and analyzing the recurrence patterns of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder for one year.

The average duration of recurred symptoms was 84 days per year in the non-CRM group. In comparison, it was only 22 days in the CRM group, showing a significant reduction.

“This study showed that the recurrence of depression and bipolar disorder, which are difficult to prevent with drug treatment alone, can be prevented by managing circadian rhythm with the help of wearable devices and smartphones along with existing medication,” Professor Lee said.

Copyright © KBR Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution prohibited