Is There a Future for Depression Digital Motion Constructs in Psychiatry?

Abstract

Psychomotor retardation has been recognized as a principal component of depression for centuries. Amongst symptoms and signs associated with depression, it is seen as having high predictive validity, correlating with severity of illness and the outcome of numerous therapeutic interventions. Of the two components—"psycho" and "motor"—the psychological component has received the most thorough investigation and has been given the greatest consideration. The "motor" (or motion) component has been given little consideration. A review of the literature suggests few studies have attempted to quantitatively characterize this phenomenon or use it as anything more than one indice among other signs and symptoms of depression. Unlike other phenomena associated with depression, the use of motion alterations has lagged in significance due to limited technology that would allow its study; depression has been seen predominantly as a "mood" disorder, with principal interest being in the "feelings" associated with the disorder. Recent advances in motion capture technologies allow motion alterations to be used for many purposes, both quantitative and qualitative. These sources of information appear to have direct and indirect impact. There is a fertile future for motion capture constructs in the study of depression, and recent technological advances will allow progress to occur in this area.