Featured Studies Highlight #4: PRIME Care Actigraph Research

STUDY TITLE: THE PRECISION MEDICINE IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE (PRIME) ACTIGRAPH STUDY

STUDY OVERVIEW:

While reduced sleep and sleep disturbances are characteristics of depression, a common issue with the veteran population, data on individuals’ sleep is rarely obtained and used to determine clinical treatment and outcomes. Through new wearable technology, it may be possible to objectively measure a person’s sleep activity to better understand its relationship to outcomes in depression.

STUDY PURPOSE:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), one of the most common conditions associated with military service, is more prevalent in military personnel than civilians and is a leading cause of suicidal ideation and behaviors among Veterans. Despite available treatments, many patients experience partial or no remission of their depressive symptoms. Reduced activity and sleep disturbances are characteristics of depression and are modifiable risk factors, but they are seldom included as part of a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan for depression. Sleep and physical activity augmentations to standard treatment could prove beneficial to some patients. Wearable activity monitors offer an opportunity to gather objective information about patients’ sleep and activity data in a natural environment with minimal burden or disruption to a person’s daily activities. Therefore, there is a need to explore the potential of wearable activity monitors to identify sleep and physical activity characteristics associated with depression outcomes and use this information to inform treatment choices.

GOALS/OBJECTIVES:

The PRIME Care Actigraph Study was designed to explore the potential for wearable Activity Monitors to identify activity and sleep characteristics associated with clinical outcomes for depression over the course of treatment. These findings will be clinically useful, because they will help to identify a) specific patients who may benefit from behavioral interventions, b) specific behaviors on which to intervene, and c) optimal windows of opportunity to introduce behavioral interventions over the course of treatment.

STUDY RESULTS:

Results have not currently been reported, but are expected in the coming months.

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT VETERANS?:

First, data from the wearable devices can be used to identify specific patients, behaviors, and optimal windows for intervention (who, what and when). Next, how data elements from patients’ wearables can be summarized and integrated into the clinical workflow and used by patients and providers in shared decision-making related to the patients’ treatment will be examined.