A medical study is currently testing whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to detect depression in pregnant women or those who have recently given birth. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have collaborated with AI firm BlueSky to create an app for this purpose.
The app functions by asking users to complete tasks, during which software analyses their facial expressions, speech, and automatic movements. After task completion, the technology flags if participants achieve a depression score above a specified threshold. Researchers hope this tool will encourage women to discuss mood changes with their GP during and after pregnancy.
The study, which commenced in 2024, is now in its final stages, with researchers aiming for completion in October 2026. Dr Neil Nixon, a lead researcher, stated that approximately a third of women who have participated in the study so far have been flagged for depression. He added that the technology is intended to support clinicians rather than diagnose conditions.
A University of Oxford report from last year indicated that 39% of maternal deaths in the UK, occurring between six weeks and one year after pregnancy, are suicides. Sally Bunkman from the charity PANDAS noted that while the technology has potential to empower women, human-to-human support remains crucial.