It is well known that poor mental health can cause problems during pregnancy and early parenthood.
A study, supported by the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission, evaluates new methods of assessing and monitoring mental health during pregnancy and the early postnatal period by using an app called TrueBlue.
TrueBlue allows users to complete mental health assessments, away from hospitals and clinics, in the privacy of their own homes at a time that is convenient for them.
TrueBlue app is being tested for the first time in users who are pregnant or have recently given birth to assesses the safety of the app, its ease of use and whether the app is a practical option for use within the NHS.
The information collected by the app may help professionals better understand current and changing mood states, in a way that helps to inform future care.
Study participants are asked to use the TrueBlue app to record mood, answer questions related to mental health and wellbeing and to provide feedback about the use of TrueBlue, over a period of 12 weeks. Tasks include recording a video diary and reading a story to their unborn/newborn baby, journalling and reading tasks.
The study will develop processes where a user’s behaviour, collected from voice and video recorded by the user on the app, can be used to predict and highlight symptoms of depression, anxiety and anhedonia, the reduced ability to experience pleasure.
A “flagging system” built into the app enables researchers to check in with users if thresholds for moderate-severe depression or suicidality are reached. Referrals to perinatal psychiatry teams may then be made.
The study is being conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham and local NHS partners. The app has been developed by BlueSkeye AI, a spin-out company based at the University which specialises in human behaviour analysis for improving mental well-being.
The data collected will be used in part to train the AI algorithm of BlueSkeye AI for predicting clinical measures of depression, anxiety and anhedonia. This AI algorithm will be integrated in future versions of TrueBlue.
Dr Neil Nixon, Clinical Associate Professor in Adult Mood Disorder at the University of Nottingham, and study Chief Investigator said:
“We’re working hard not only to assess the technology – but understand how this technology is used in the real-world, including integration with NHS IT systems to support improved mental health care during pregnancy and early post-partum.
“The app journalling and reading tasks are often valued as a means of self-reflection, which is very different to the repetitive clinical questionnaires that feel difficult to understand – so if the AI predictions are good enough, then there is every possibility that this technology could be integrated into healthcare.”
Funding for some TrueBlue researchers has been provided by the MH-TRC Mission’s Capacity Development workstream.
