Researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in the Australian state of Queensland said Wednesday they have discovered a way to diagnose melancholia by analyzing a person watching a movie.
Melancholia is a severe form of depression. People with melancholia may experience deep, long-lasting sadness and slow speech, thoughts, and movements, and are less likely to respond to psychological treatments and often require stronger drugs or brain stimulation to recover. .
Philip Mosley, lead author of the new study from QIMR Berghofer, said early and accurate diagnosis of melancholia is crucial.
The research team used artificial intelligence to analyze the facial expressions of 70 clinical trial participants as they watched a comedy film. Participants then watched an emotional short film while their brain activity was measured.
People with melancholia responded differently to stimuli than people with non-melancholic depression, Mosley said.
“People with the disorder looked flat, and did not smile during a funny video,” he said. ”
Additionally, the brains of those suffering from melancholia registered a blunted or blunted response during uplifting scenes in an emotional film, Xinhua News Agency reported.
“The research will allow general practitioners and other medical professionals to more quickly and accurately diagnose people with melancholic depression, recover and feel connected to their loved ones sooner,” said Moseley.
The team will next explore the theory that melancholic depression might be better treated with neuromodulation, a medical technique that uses electrical stimulation or chemical agents to improve nervous system function.