What all physicians need to know about wearables (and tech) in mental health care

Can the wearable on your patient’s wrist help prevent their next manic episode?

On this episode of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer hosts Dr. John Torous, digital psychiatry expert and the first guest to appear on 3 podcast episodes. They always have plenty to talk about as the field of digital mental health care continues to expand. This time, the primary focus is on wearables and data collection.

They discuss how data captured on devices (especially related to sleep and exercise) can potentially improve care – and overall health; the types of “passive data” that can be collected; and the pros (behaviour and environment) and cons (privacy, privacy, privacy!) that come with it.

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During another fascinating tech talk between Drs. Gratzer and Torous we learn about:

the implications of wearables in mental health carewhat forms they currently take (watches, rings, phones)the types of data that can be collectedsome can benefit treatment of schizophrenia and depressionothers would help provide accurate social determinants databut, in all cases, there may be risk to data and patient privacy to considerhow COVID ignited synchronous digital mental health care via telehealthand how an asynchronous care using data from wearables and apps is due to ignite next.

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Hear more from Dr. John Torous on previous episodes of Quick Takes:
Episode 3: What all physicians need to know about digital psychiatry.

Episode 11: What all physicians need to know about mental health apps.

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Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca.

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