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Abstract:

Objectives: Recently, there has been a strong increase in the application of wearable technology in medicine and research. Although wearables also have large potential for mental health care, current applications are limited. This is due to both the lack of cognitive behavioral expertise in technological companies as well as a lack of technological know-how in mental health care. Wearables can collect reliable, continuous, and ecologically valid physiological data that can inform on both vulnerability factors and the process of recovery in mental disorders. Two mental disorders that are highly prevalent, have a large impact on psycho-emotional well-being, and are associated with societal and economical costs are burnout and depression. The Carewear project wants to combine technological know-how with psychological expertise to enrich current employment assistance programs and the treatment of depression with the implementation of wearable technology. Method: We will develop and test a software platform and accompanying clinical guidelines that allow health care professionals to use physiological data to inform on potential vulnerability factors as well the process of recovery. Two use cases will investigate the added value of this implementation of wearable technology in current protocols to prevent burnout and treat depression. Clients will be asked to wear a wristband that registers heart rate variability, skin conductance, and motor activity. Both client and professional can report on the physiological data on the platform and discuss the findings in regular consults. Results: The platform is currently under development and the studies have been designed. We would like to present both the platform and research protocols at ECP 2017. Conclusion: Wearable technology has large potential in the field of mental health care but there are some difficulties in practical implementation and interpretation. The Carewear project aims to overcome these problems by providing a user-friendly platform and clinical guidelines tailored to the use in mental healthcare, which will make physiological data accessible and comprehendible for both healthcare professionals and clients.