Mobile apps and mental health: Using technology to quantify real-time clinical risk
“And you can change it, you can influence it.”
– Steve Jobs
Discussion: Genomic sequencing and digital phenotyping
Although smartphones can gather a wide range of active and passive data, other data streams hold potential for predicting relapse and performing other clinically relevant actions. One data stream that could be of clinical use is genomic sequencing.12 The genotyping of patients provides a wealth of information about the underlying biology, and genomic sequencing has never been cheaper.13
Combining the data gathered via digital phenotyping with that of genotyping could help elucidate the mechanisms by which specific diseases and symptoms occur. This could be very promising to better understand and treat our patients. However, as is the case with genomics, digital phenotyping has important ethical implications. If used in the proper way to benefit our patients, the future for this new method is bright.
