For the first time in the mental health industry, Sentio Solutions has used objective data collected from physiological signals detected by their proprietary Feel Emotion Sensor, an emotion tracking wearable device, to understand and quantify the changes to the emotional states of a sample group of participants in Europe and the USA. Results from this recent study showed sudden and significant changes to those physiological signals, indicating that emotional changes or new emotions were being experienced.
Over the course of eight weeks, between February 2020 and April 2020, Sentio collected data from a random sample group of participants in Europe and the USA, and analyzed 128 million electro-dermal activity (EDA) samples, 400 million heart rate variability (HRV) samples, 64 million skin temperature (ST) samples, and approximately 900 significant emotional moments.
Analysis of the data showed:
- A dramatic drop in the various bio-signals after lockdown, indicating a significant change in people’s emotional state
- The number of negative emotions experienced almost doubled after lockdown
- More than 60% of those negative emotions increased in intensity
- The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown have triggered the occurrence of novel emotions such as feeling vulnerable, empty, terrified, fearful and miserable.
“The Feel Emotion Sensor was developed following many years of research, it uses proprietary algorithms and artificial intelligence to analyze physiological data to detect the emotional space, and is connected to a companion app and a data-driven CBT therapy program. The introduction of this tool is a breakthrough in the mental health care space, which has been fairly subjective until now. It gives users real-time self-awareness and tools to manage their emotions, and our therapists can use data to design personalized treatments. We are only scratching the surface of the potential of our technology and this will completely reinvent mental health care for the future,” said CTO and co-founder Haris Tsirmpas.
Read the full study here.
Sentio Solutions is a San Francisco based company, which develops biomarkers and digital therapeutics to change the way we diagnose, manage and care for mental health. The company’s premier offering Feel is a holistic mental health program that uses its proprietary Feel Emotion Sensor to quantify a person’s emotional state for the very first time, and deliver 24/7 emotional health support to those in need. The company also launched the Feel Relief Program, a tailored and structured mental health program to meet the demand and need for emotional help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full details of both programs can be found here.
