Assist.-Prof. Johannes Passecker, PhD, from the Medical University of Innsbruck, is involved in pioneering research on the use of digital phenotyping to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This innovative research was featured by ORF, highlighting how data collected through smartphones and wearable devices can provide objective markers of patients’ behavior and cognitive performance.
The study, which analyzes more than two decades of data, shows that these technologies allow clinicians to continuously observe changes in mental health rather than relying solely on brief clinical assessments. According to Passecker, digital tools offer a more complete picture of a patient’s condition and may even help predict psychotic relapses with up to 80% accuracy, underscoring their potential for future psychiatric care.
