Clinical Validation of Samsung Smartwatch

Running, not enrolling

Conditions studied: Major Depressive Disorder, Mood Disorders, Mental Health Issue

In brief

Objective: Wearable technology holds promising potential for mental health monitoring and detection. Samsung has developed an algorithm that they believe can detect signs of depression and anxiety in smartwatch users. They have used this algorithm to create a "Mindfulness Index," which is an easily understood visual index of mental health. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the performance of Samsung's Mindfulness Index in identifying those who have received a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) from a clinician-administered semi-structured diagnostic interview. Research Procedures: The target sample size is 135 individuals diagnosed with current Major Depressive Disorder and 85 healthy controls. To meet this target, the recruitment target is set at 220 participants. Participants will be assigned to the MDD condition, or the healthy control condition based on their score on the Beck Depression Inventory. Each subject will be followed for 3 months. Participants will be provided with a Samsung smartphone and Samsung smartwatch. Participants will be asked to wear the smartwatch 24 hours per day, except while charging. This smartwatch will collect data on heartrate, sleep time, and step count. During the study, each day participants will receive texts prompting a link to a "daily diary." These surveys will ask about depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, during the first 3 weeks of the study, participants will participate in ecological momentary assessment; texts will be sent 5 times per day prompting participants to fill out a survey about how they currently feel in that moment. These extra surveys will stop after the first 3 weeks of the study, but the daily diary surveys will continue throughout the study. Furthermore, virtual clinician visits will occur at weeks 4, 8, and 12.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05767593

Run by

Massachusetts General Hospital

People needed

220

Starts

2023-04-27

Expected to finish

2027-01-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• A lifetime history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, or delusional disorders; an eating disorder in the past 6 months; organic brain syndrome; a history of substance use disorder in the last 12 months.
• Presence or history of clinically significant neurological disorders and brain injuries (cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, etc.)
• Serious medical illness or instability for which hospitalization may be likely within the next year.
• Patient does not own a smartphone with a data plan that allows them to receive text messages and access the internet throughout the day.
• Patient is unable to understand study procedures and participate in the informed consent process.

Where it is running

• Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.