Can your smart ring detect depression? new study explores digital mental health tracking
NCT ID NCT05753605
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether digital tools like smartphone apps and wearable rings can help track mental health symptoms in daily life. Over 300 adults with conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety used an app and a smart ring for several weeks. The goal was to see if sensor data (like sleep or activity) matches how people feel, and to explore new ways to detect mood changes early.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help develop better ways to monitor mental health using everyday devices like smartphones and smart rings.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small, completed study focused on data collection, not treatment. The findings may not apply to everyone and need more research.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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302 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2023
- Finished
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May 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
We will employ a multisite recruitment. The primary recruitment site will include students attending undergraduate and graduate programs from all 3 School of Nursing campuses at the University of Washington (Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell) from a total student body of 1026 students. The advantage of this specific population is its diversity. According to the UW 2021 census, 63% of this student body reflect Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) or Underrepresented Minorities (URM). Additional sites may include other academic sites in addition to recruitment channels through social media campaigns and student organizations.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18+ years of age * Experiencing mental health symptoms associated with one or more mental health conditions including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder or schizophrenia as defined by cut off scores on validated screening instruments OR a self-reported clinician confirmed diagnosis of a major mood disorder, anxiety disorder or psychotic spectrum disorder at baseline. * Major depression (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)): total score 10+ * Bipolar disorder (Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)): yes to 6+ items on question 1 * Anxiety disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GADS-7)): Total score 10+ * Psychotic spectrum (Prodromal Questionnaire - Brief version (PQ-B)): a cut-off of 6+ endorsed positive items and 6+ for the distress subscale total score * Able to speak, write and read English, given the app will be available only in English * Able to provide informed consent * Participants must have a personally owned iPhone 5s or newer (iOS 12 or higher) and use their phone for this study. This includes a willingness to download and use the study applications and sync their phone with the necessary study devices. * Willingness to continuously wear a personally owned wearable device and permit researcher access to pre-identified streams of data (BYOD arm only) Willingness to continuously wear the Oura smartring and permit research access to its data (Oura arm only) Exclusion Criteria: * Not willing to permit access to wearable device data or use the study smartphone applications * Currently or attempting to get pregnant Cortisol Sub-arm Inclusion Criteria: For participants interested in the hair cortisol sub-arm, they will have to meet the following inclusion criteria: * Willing to extract 50-60 hairs from the back of the head * Hair at least 6 centimeters long * Not currently taking glucocorticoid containing medication (e.g., beclomethasone, betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, triamcinolone)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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4YouandMe
Seattle, Washington, 98121, United States
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