Virtual Reality-Assisted Therapies

Computer-generated or 360-degree video simulations are designed to mimic realistic scenarios in a controlled environment to monitor or manage mental health symptoms. VR simulations can also be combined with psychoeducational techniques (Sivanathan et al., 2024) to deliver video-based learning modules or just-in-time interventions. Our team uses Oculus MetaQuest headsets and controllers to deliver VR-based interventions in the clinic and community.

In-Lab Physiological Data

Physiological responses can be captured using high-quality medical- and research-grade in-lab devices, capturing biometrics such as electrocardiograph (ECG), photoplethysmography (PPG),  electrodermal activity (EDA), and respiratory (RESP). Recordings can be done independently or in tandem with other digital tools (e.g., virtual reality) by synchronizing event timings with questionnaire and/or simulation events. These physiological signals derived in-lab can be used to establish the baseline for digital phenotype profiling (DPP) for individualized stress response models (Nguyen et al., 2023a, Nguyen et al., 2023b), for comparison to wearable devices. 

Wearable Devices

Accessory-based wearable devices (e.g., smart-rings, smartwatches) integrate small biosensors to passively collect biometrics (e.g,. heart rate variability, respiration, temperature, sleep, activity) unobtrusively as users do about their daily activities. Coupled with mobile-based applications, wearable devices allow users to monitor their mental and physical health metrics in near-real time. Our team uses smart rings (e.g., Oura Ring) or smart watches (e.g., Fitbit Sense 2) in research studies to continuously monitor key health metrics over time and offer patients remote health monitoring tools to manage their mental and physical health. 

Oura Rings; source: ouraring.com 

Fitbit Sense 2; source: fitbit.com 

• Mobile Assessments of Mood & Cognition

Remote measurement-based care allows healthcare providers to monitor patients’ mood, mental health symptoms, and/or cognitive-behavioural abilities (attention, executive function, memory, etc.) asynchronously (outside of clinic appointments) and over time. Our research program uses mobile assessments to frequently monitor patients’ mood, mental health status, and/or cognition on a daily or weekly basis using web-based platforms such as Greenspace or REDCap.

Greenspace Health; source: greenspacehealth.com 

Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) platform; source: project-redcap.org 

Digital Phenotype Profiling 

Digital Phenotype Profiling is a data driven method that construct a machine learning model to represent the mental health phenotype (such as for stress, depression, and anxiety) (Ngugen et al., 2021). Using the Statistical, Information and Data-driving (SID) approach (Nguyen et al., 2023a, Nguyen et al., 2023b), passive wearable data (eg., smartphone or Oura ring) and active EMA  questionnaire data provided complementary data structure to model Digital Personal Profiles.