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Unobtrusive Monitoring of Affective Symptoms and Cognition Using Keyboard Dynamics (UnMASCK)

Unobtrusive Monitoring of Affective Symptoms and Cognition Using Keyboard Dynamics

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04358900
Acronym
UnMASCK
Enrollment
132
Registered
2020-04-24
Start date
2020-09-17
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2026-05-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder I, Bipolar Disorder II, Cyclothymia, Major Depressive Disorder, Mood Disorders, Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Brief summary

Mood disorders are associated with significant financial and health costs for the United States, partially due to cognitive problems in these patients that can worsen disease course and impair treatment response. This study proposes to use smartphone-based technology to monitor cognitive problems in patients with mood disorders by linking brain network changes with predicted worsening of mood symptoms. The proposed study will provide evidence for using smartphone-based passive sensing as a cost-effective way to predict illness course and treatment response.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

University of Illinois at Chicago
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 25-50 years, as age-related declines in brain connectivity occur starting around 40-45 years of age (49-51); * Participants must meet criteria for one of the following disorders according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 criteria (52): major depressive disorder (MDD), persistent depressive disorder (PDD), bipolar disorder (BD) type I/type II, cyclothymia. To ensure adequate representation across diagnostic categories (including controls), the investigators will cap enrollment of major mood disorders (MDD, BD type I/II) to 50%, PDD and cyclothymia to 25% and recruit a healthy comparison group to comprise the remaining 25% of the sample. * Own a BiAffect-compatible smartphone.

Exclusion criteria

* Active suicidal ideation as determined by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)(50), suicide attempt in the last 3 months * Severe cognitive impairment secondary to a neurological disorder (mild cognitive impairment, neurocognitive disorders, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay) * Active moderate or severe alcohol and/or substance use disorders; * Major medical or neurologic illness that would interfere with protocol adherence and/or interpretation of findings; and * Presence of contraindications to MRI. * Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test), trying to become pregnant, or lactation.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
NeuroimagingChange from week 2 to week 4.a. Neuroimaging based biomarkers of cognitive performance will include Structural brain network Efficiency Interhemispheric Efficiency, Reduced nodal efficiency in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex/altered modularity, Reduced nodal efficiency in anterior cingulate cortex, and Reduced nodal efficiency in salience networks. Neuroimaging will take place while the participant completes the parametric Go/No-go test completed during a functional magnetic resonance imaging after using BiAffect app for 2 weeks, and again after using the BiAffect app for 4 weeks.
BiAffect MetricMeasured at the end of week 4 after using the BiAffect app for 4 weeks1. BiAffect Metric component 1, Typing speed: Data collected through the keyboard provided by the BiAffect app to measure the Average Interkey Delay (The average time between keystrokes measured in seconds) and keys per second will be combined to report typing speed. 2. BiAffect Metric component 2, Backspace Ratio: Data collected through the keyboard provided by the BiAffect app to measure the number of backspace keypresses divided by total keypresses. 3. BiAffect Metric component 3, Autocorrect Rate: Data collected through the keyboard provided by the BiAffect app to measure the number of autocorrect events divided by total keypresses. These 3 components will be combined to report the BiAffect Metric.
Clinical symptomsMeasured at baseline.1. Severity of depressive symptoms: In person administration of the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-C/QIDS-C). Possible scores range from 0-111 where higher scores indicate more severe depression symptoms. 2. Symptoms of mania: In person administration of the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) which has a total score range from 0 to 60; higher scores indicate a more severe mania. 3. Symptoms of depression: In person administration of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Scores range between 0-52, and the higher the score the more depressive symptoms a participant has. These questionnaires will be combined to produce the clinical symptoms measure.
CognitionChange from week 2 to week 41. Attention/ processing speed will be measured in person using the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (scores range 0-5, and higher scores mean better attention), the Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (scores range 0-130, and higher scores mean faster processing speed), and the Trail Making Task part A (scores range 0-300 seconds, and lower scores mean faster processing speed). 2. Cognitive control will be measured in person using the Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (scores range 0-10, and higher scores mean better cognitive control), the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test, and the Trail Making Task part B (scores range 0-300 seconds, and lower scores mean higher cognitive control). 3. Working memory will be measured in person using the List Sorting Working Memory Test (scores range 0-28, and higher scores mean better working memory). Attention, cognitive control, and working memory scores will be combined to produce the cognitive outcome variable.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOROlusola Ajilore, MD, PhD

University of Illinois at Chicago

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 16, 2026