You may know the feeling. It’s the late afternoon, and you still haven’t left the house. You’ve spent several hours on your phone, scrolling through your Facebook news feed, refreshing Twitter and watching Youtube videos. A smartphone might feel like it’s keeping you connected but it can also be a way of secluding yourself.
Data from a recent study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine found that the scenario described above—high volume of phone use and a static geographic location—could be linked to depression. The study published in The Journal of Medical Internet Research, also found that depressed people, on average, spend more time on the phone than non-depressed people.
“People are likely, when on their phones, to avoid thinking about things that are troubling painful feelings or difficult relationships,” said David Mohr, one of the study’s senior authors and a professor of behavioral psychology at Northwestern, in a statement. “It’s an avoidance behavior we see in depression.” Mohr also pointed out that depressed people tend to withdraw emotionally and avoid going out—behaviors that are arguably facilitated by the constant entertainment stream available on smartphones.
The study’s participants consisted of a mix of people with and without prior depression. They completed a questionnaire describing their symptoms before agreeing to have their phone use monitored for two weeks. Using GPS, the researchers tracked their location and the amount of time they spent on the phone. They were then able to identify which participants were depressed using the aggregated phone data, with 87 percent accuracy.
Sohrob Saeb, a research fellow at Northwestern, said in the release that phones could be more reliable for diagnosing depression than traditional methods. In standard industry practice, patients are often asked to describe their symptoms by indicating how sad they are on a scale of 1 to 10. According to Saeb, the release reported, these responses can be rote and unreliable. In contrast, the study found, a smartphone can unobtrusively (不引人注目地) and accurately measure a patient’s daily activity, providing data that could trigger a health care provider to recognize the need for an intervention.
What can be learned from the study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University?
Data from a recent study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine found that the scenario described above—high volume of phone use and a static geographic location—could be linked to depression. The study published in The Journal of Medical Internet Research, also found that depressed people, on average, spend more time on the phone than non-depressed people.
“People are likely, when on their phones, to avoid thinking about things that are troubling painful feelings or difficult relationships,” said David Mohr, one of the study’s senior authors and a professor of behavioral psychology at Northwestern, in a statement. “It’s an avoidance behavior we see in depression.” Mohr also pointed out that depressed people tend to withdraw emotionally and avoid going out—behaviors that are arguably facilitated by the constant entertainment stream available on smartphones.
The study’s participants consisted of a mix of people with and without prior depression. They completed a questionnaire describing their symptoms before agreeing to have their phone use monitored for two weeks. Using GPS, the researchers tracked their location and the amount of time they spent on the phone. They were then able to identify which participants were depressed using the aggregated phone data, with 87 percent accuracy.
Sohrob Saeb, a research fellow at Northwestern, said in the release that phones could be more reliable for diagnosing depression than traditional methods. In standard industry practice, patients are often asked to describe their symptoms by indicating how sad they are on a scale of 1 to 10. According to Saeb, the release reported, these responses can be rote and unreliable. In contrast, the study found, a smartphone can unobtrusively (不引人注目地) and accurately measure a patient’s daily activity, providing data that could trigger a health care provider to recognize the need for an intervention.
What can be learned from the study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University?
举一反三
- Passage Two Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage. Online programs to fight depression are already commercially available. While they sound efficient and cost-saving, a recent study reports that they are not effective, primarily because depressed patients are not likely to engage with them or stick with them. The study looked at computer-assisted cognitive(认知的) behavioral therapy(CBT) and found that it was no more effective in treating depression than the usual care patients receive from a primary care doctor. Traditional CBT is considered an effective form of talk therapy for depression, helping people challenge negative thoughts and change the way they think in order to change their mood and behaviors. However, online CBT programs have been gaining popularity, with the attraction of providing low-cost help wherever someone has access to a computer. A team of researchers from the University of Y ork conducted a randomized(随机的) control trial with 691 depressed patients from 83 physician practices across England. The patients were split into three groups: one group received only usual care from a physician while the other two groups received usual care from a physician plus one of two computerized CBT programs. Participants were balanced across the three groups for age, sex, educational background, severity and duration of depression, and use of antidepressants(抗抑郁药). After four months, the patients using the computerized CBT programs had no improvement in depression levels over the patients who were only getting usual care from their doctors. “It’s an important, cautionary note that we shouldn’t get too carried away with the idea that a computer system can replace doctors and therapists, ” says Christopher Dowrick, a professor of primary medical care at the University of Liverpool. “We do still need the human touch or the human interaction, particularly when people are depressed.” Being depressed can mean feeling “lost in your own small, negative, dark world,” Dowrick says. Having a person, instead of a computer, reach out to you is particularly important in combating that sense of isolation. “When you’re emotionally vulnerable, you’re even more in need of a caring human being ,” he says. 51.What does the recent study say about online CBT programs? A)Patients may not be able to carry them through for effective cure. B)Patients cannot engage with them without the use of a computer. C)They can save patients trouble visiting physicians. D)They have been well received by a lot of patients. 52.What has made online CBT programs increasingly popular? A)Their effectiveness in combating depression. B)The low efficiency of traditional talk therapy. C)Their easy and inexpensive access by patients. D)The recommendation by primary care doctors. What is the major finding by researchers at the University of York? Online CBT programs are no more effective than regular care from physicians. The process of treating depression is often more complicated than anticipated. The combination of traditional CBT and computerized CBT is most effective. Depression is a mental condition which is to be treated with extreme caution. What is Professor Dowrick’s advice concerning online CBT programs? They should not be neglected in primary care. Their effectiveness should not be overestimated. They should be used by strictly following instructions. Their use should be encouraged by doctors and therapists. What is more important to an emotionally vulnerable person? A positive state of mind. Appropriate medication. Timely encouragement. Human interaction.
- Change your study habits. Have you sometimes found the______ to ______ when you didn't study well ______ for a test? Try changing your study habit. Study with a friend or have your ______ help. Do not ______ all your studying into the last ______ , and get a good night's ______ before a test.______ , make practice test so you can ______ on those ______ in which you need the most work.
- The study in the journal Psychological Science suggests(). A: one’s emotions can influence one’s facial expressions B: the frown-free people will never feel sad or angry C: one’s facial expressions can influence one’s emotions D: people can control emotions by frowning more often
- Write one summary according to what you have learned this week: [br][/br] You may want to offer help if your friend falls into depression(抑郁). Depression is a complex emotional illness and it is necssary to do adequate(充足) research about the illness. You may access anumber of resources to gain a deep understanding of this emotional condition. You can also find books or magazines in the library. If you still have some questions, you can see a doctor. In the end, you should havea good idea of what is affecting your friend. People with depression are often very afraid of talking to someone except their doctors. They can easily be ashamed of their condition and consequently they try to hide it. You shouldn’t be surprised if a depressed friend won’t open up to you. However , when he or she does , you should let the words flow. Don’t be judgemental and never interrupt! Listening is not an easy skill, as it’s likely that you can’t help voicing your opinion. If your friend shows likely signs of depression, such as the feeling of worthlessness, a lack of interest in daily activities and uncontrolled crying, you should contact a doctor, scheduel an appointment andaccompany him or her on the first visit. If he or she refuses, let several days go by before making another suggestion. You should be able to identify moments when he or she seems to have better moods. These moments could be the right time to ask him or her to see the doctor. Over time, your friend begins to cooperate and see the doctor. At last, as a caregiver, you also need someone to talk to and perhaps you may join a support group so you can meet other caregivers. You shouldn’t sacrifice your own physical and mental condition when helping people with depression. There are cases when caregivers become depressed. If it happens, there is no shame in seeing a doctor yourself. (320 words)
- What has the study found about people’s opinion on carpooling?[1分]