Digital Phenotyping to Quantify Psychosocial Wellbeing Trajectories after Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE Explore feasibility of smartphone-based digital phenotyping methods to examine depression and its relation to psychosocial wellbeing indicators after spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN Smartphone research platform obtained smartphone sensor and survey data among community-living adult wheelchair users with SCI. Weekly measurements over four months included Patient Health Questionnaire-8, SCI-Quality of Life Satisfaction with and Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (SRA), GPS-derived community mobility metrics, health conditions, and physical activity. RESULTS Forty-three individuals were enrolled. Study retention was higher among individuals offered financial incentives (78%) compared with participants enrolled prior to incentives (50%). Participants who dropped out more commonly had nontraumatic or acute SCI, were older, and had less satisfaction and lower participation in SRA. Among 15 individuals with complete data, half had >one week of mild depression. Those with depression had frequent health issues, and less satisfaction and lower participation in SRA. Those without depression experienced increased social engagement over time. Average community mobility was similar across depression groups. Relationships were typically in-phase, but also varied by individual. CONCLUSION Smartphone-based digital phenotyping of psychosocial wellbeing after SCI is feasible but not without attrition challenges. Individual differences in depression patterns highlight clinical utility of scaling these methods.