Australian-based Heartlink Limited has patented technology and diagnostic hardware that has demonstrated potential to diagnose psychiatric disorders and differentiate between them (e.g. depression vs. anxiety). The Heartlink method, based on circadian cardiac rhythm, represents a simple biological measure of mental state that could possibly be utilised as an objective marker of psychiatric status.
Originally invented by a psychiatrist, the device has undergone trials over five years extending to 800 patients that clearly indicated a relationship between the circadian cardiac physiology and the mental status of the patient. Results that indicated reliability of diagnosing depression and distinguishing between depression and anxiety have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
Research has demonstrated that atypical circadian heart rate patterns co-occur with psychiatric illness suggesting a patho-physiological process. Heart rate patterns (taken during sleep) from patients with known psychiatric disorders are different than the normal signature pattern found in individuals who are free of psychiatric illness. Moreover, distinct heart rate patterns were presented for several diagnoses including depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.
Heartlink now seeks partners to further evaluate the validity of its analysis against standard psychiatric assessment procedures and/or joint ventures with other developing technologies that may lead to objective analysis superior to the current gold standard subjective questionnaires. Monitoring and download devices have been developed and are readily available to support research and development activities.
Source: Heartlink Limited
