HealthDay (2/12, Neff) reports a study “suggests that wearable trackers can detect the subtle signs of a depression relapse weeks or even months before an actual episode.” The study followed 93 Canadian adults with “a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and had previously recovered from a depression episode” for up to two years. The participants “wore a research-grade device similar to a Fitbit or Apple Watch around the clock and had regular in-person visits for depression assessment and data download.” Researchers observed that “a person’s daily rhythms tell a story. Specifically, people with irregular sleep schedules had nearly double the risk of falling back into a depressive episode. The most telling sign wasn’t just how long someone slept, but how different their day was from their night.” Specifically, “when the data showed less of a difference between daytime movement and nighttime rest, a relapse was often right around the corner.” The study was published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Related Links:
— “Smartwatches May Soon Predict a Depression Relapse,”Deanna Neff, HealthDay , February 12, 2026