Smartphone App Helps Patients with Depression

Approximately 16 million American adults are affected by depression.

However, many patients see a psychiatrist only once every two or three months.

Your mood can frequently fluctuate if you struggle with depression. To help track these fluctuations, Missouri University of Science and Technology and the Tiger Institute for Health Innovation developed a smartphone app that allows you to log your moods and symptoms and then share that data with your psychiatrist.

Users of the app are able to record their moods on a scale of one to five by selecting the appropriate smiley face icon that matches their current feelings.

In addition to recording your mood, sleep, and activity, the app has a journal feature that lets you record notes to share with your psychiatrist. The app also includes a helpline that can connect the user with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline if needed.

Could this help patients receive help if they're feeling depressed?

Ganesh Gopalakrishna, MD, discusses the app, MoodTrek™, and how it can help patients understand their depression symptoms as well as help psychiatrists treat the depression.