The National Institute of Mental Health, Postpartum Progress, UNC Chapel Hill and Apple Inc collaborated to conduct a large study about postpartum depression. The companies will be rolling out a free app that will be a venue for patients to participate in the study in an effort to better understand postpartum depression.
CNN reports on how we could better understand postpartum depression through an iPhone app. Led by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the consortium "Postpartum Depression: Action Towards Causes and Treatment," the free app that was launched last March 21 aims to understand the biological cause of postpartum depression and psychosis, as well as to develop innovative treatments for the disorder.
PPD ACT app developed by UNC researches genetic signs of postpartum depression https://t.co/MOW0lbPWy5 pic.twitter.com/ugqddHO8BT
— Vanessa Mason (@vanessamason) March 24, 2016
How does the app work?
Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Body, director of the perinatal psychiatry program at the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders, not only led the study, but also designed the app that will be the tool for the study. Meltzer-Body emphasized the need to understand the underlying biology and the genetic risk for postpartum depression.
The app, called the PPD Act app, is part of Apple's ResearchKit. This will allow researchers to reach participants worldwide. KDSK says that once the app is downloaded, you will be prompted to answer 10 questions from the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
This tool has been used to assess symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The answers will then be evaluated and will release personalized diagnosis and treatment suggestions. Those found with severe symptoms will be asked to participate a genetic study and if they agree, they will be sent "spit kits" from the National Institute of Mental Health for spit samples, reports CNN.
Global-wide reach
Currently, the app is available in the United States and Australia. The team will be rolling out a British version of the app in the United Kingdom real soon, as per Meltzer-Brody. They are also planning to create other versions specific for other countries.
Usually, it will take months or even years to find volunteers for these types of study. However, with Apple's involvement, they may get the women to participate easily. Their goal is to get 100,000 women from different parts of the world.
Now the challenge is to reach women who are underprivileged in low-income communities who may not own an iPhone. The researchers plan to distribute iTouches to clinics around the country. To know more about postpartum depression, check out the video below:
