Can Your Smartwatch Detect a Depressive Episode Before It Starts?

Wearables for the Win: Those who wear health trackers regularly know they can be quite off-base with their data collection and related advice. That said, sensors keep getting better, and a study out of McMaster University suggests that wrist-worn devices may have the power to detect depression relapse before it happens. 

The Study: In a paper published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers followed people with a history of major depressive disorder who were currently in remission. Participants wore wrist-based devices that tracked sleep, activity, and circadian rhythms. The team found that subtle changes, especially disrupted sleep and shifting daily activity patterns, often showed up before participants experienced a clinical relapse. In other words, the body’s rhythms started to change before mood symptoms became obvious.

The Takeaway: Wearables could potentially help flag depression relapse risk early. This could give patients and clinicians a chance to intervene by adjusting therapy, medication, or routines before a full depressive episode takes hold.

What to Know: This is still emerging research. Fitness trackers can’t diagnose depression, and they’re certainly not perfect in any regard. For now, it’s best to think of wearables as a potential early-warning tool, rather than a surefire signal.