Digital Biomarkers. Good Idea, or Privacy Concern?

Sometimes technology does things we don't expect. For example, unintended internet outages when we're trying to binge watch Ted Lasso; or, more seriously, tracking our media and product preferences with meticulous specificity. .

Recently, I've been fascinated by the potential of digital biomarkers to help improve mental health.

What are digital biomarkers?

Digital biomarkers are data collected through digital devices that we wear and carry with us. When analyzed using artificial intelligence, these data provide clues and insights about behavioral and physiological health. The data gathering is typically passive and continuous because it's gathered using everyday digital devices like smartwatches, fitness trackers and mobile phones.

Digital biomarkers have exciting possibilities, but may also have some potential drawbacks.

Exciting Possibilities.

Digital biomarkers can change mental health care by offering real-time, personalized insights into a person’s mental state. By passively collecting data from smartphones, wearables, and other devices, these biomarkers provide continuous monitoring, enabling early detection of mood shifts or relapses. This lays the groundwork for timely interventions, which can be critical in conditions like depression or bipolar disorder where changes in mood can be sudden and severe.

Digital biomarkers also reduce the reliance on self-reported data, which can be unreliable and inconsistent. Instead they offer objective measures of behavior and physiology, such as sleep patterns, heart rate variability, and social interactions.

Potential Drawbacks.

The use of digital biomarkers does raise some concerns. Privacy is the most significant issue. These tools collect highly sensitive data on users’ mental health, often without them actively engaging in the data collection.

This data could potentially be misused if not properly protected. Additionally, while digital biomarkers can offer early warning signs, they may also lead to false positives, unnecessarily alarming users or clinicians. Another concern is that over-reliance on technology may depersonalize care, reducing human interactions between patients and mental health professionals.

While digital biomarkers hold great promise for improving mental health care, their success depends on addressing privacy concerns and ensuring that they complement rather than replace traditional methods of mental health support.