App can predict depression in pregnant women

A mobile app managed to predict depression in future pregnant womenThe app will survey women in their first trimester of pregnancy and use it to predict which mothers are likely to develop depression and to what extent they will suffer from it.

This is stated in a study published in the journal “Archives of Women’s Mental Health” (Archives of Women’s Mental Health) and conducted by experts from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. As explained, the goal of this study is to use machine learning (artificial intelligence) based on data from an app (MyHealthyPregnancy) to predict the subsequent occurrence of depression.

A sample of 944 pregnant women was used for the study. MyHealthyPregnancy from September 2019 to April 2022. “Participants reported clinical and social risk factors at the start of app use and were screened for depression quarterly,” the study explains.

“Participants reported clinical and social risk factors at the start of using the app”

The app tracks your pregnancy. For example, conduct a daily assessment mood and symptoms To document the user’s pregnancy experience, it also features a fetal movement counter and contraction timer, as well as regular screenings to identify psychosocial risks.

Machine learning algorithms were applied based on this data. Thus, “a relatively small amount self-reported data made it possible for the first time modelhighly predictable depression in pregnant women,” experts say.

Some of the main results obtained with thesemeasurements through data provided by pregnant women themselveswere “predictors” or common factors in the incidence of depression in women. For example, we found common factors such as history of anxiety, relationship status, psychosocial factors, and pregnancy-specific stressors.

“A relatively small amount of self-reported data has allowed us to create a highly predictive model for the first time.”

This is a very useful model for to identify prematurely that women I will be able to develop this problemThus, according to the study, perinatal depression is one of the most common complications of pregnancy in countries such as the United States.

More precisely, “approximately 15% women present depressive symptoms at some point during pregnancy, they explain, and cases of major depression occur in about 12% of pregnancies and during the period postpartum“.

In addition, many cases of depression can happen unnoticed If a pregnant woman only goes through scheduled tests. This is why screening tests that can be done early in pregnancy were needed to identify those who are likely to develop depressive symptoms later in pregnancy.