Question 1

What is depression?

Accepted Answer

Depression is a condition that affects hundreds of million of people around the world every year. The key symptoms are a loss of energy and drive, low mood with anxiety and feelings of guilt and the loss of joy. In a clinical depression, these symptoms sustain for more than two weeks and can be accompanied by other disturbing manifestations such as suicidal thoughts, sleep problems, weight loss or obsessions and compulsions. Since research has not yet identified a single cause of depression, it can be assumed that many different causes and complex interactions can lead to a depression. If think you could be suffering from depression, don't hesitate to seek professional help.

Question 2

How can a depression be treated?

Accepted Answer

There are many different options for the treatment of depression. The most common interventions are a psychotherapy or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Since there exist different treatment options, patients and physicians have to make a decision which drug or kind of therapy is the best for your personal case.

Question 3

Why is the choice of treatment a problem?

Accepted Answer

Despite there are many options to treat depression, 40-50% of the patients will not respond to the first chosen treatment. Further, the response time to most of treatments will take at least two weeks. In case of non-response, patients change to another treatment wait another two weeks. During this time, the depression still has a hold with all its negative thought, feelings and negative impact on life.

Question 4

How can DeepPsy help?

Accepted Answer

The DeepPsy automatically analyzes EEG and ECG data uploaded by physicians. DeepPsy computes the probabilities for response to different treatment options, based on your electrophysiological profile. The final report will tell you and your physician which treatment options might be suited best for you with the biggest chance to get well soon without the need to change treatment in the future.

Question 5

Is DeepPsy safe?

Accepted Answer

DeepPsy is absolutely safe. DeepPsy itself used the EEG and ECG data that your physician recorded beforehand. The data simply has to be uploaded to the platform. DeepPsy algorithms only take into account treatment options that have been certified for treatment of depression. DeepPsy is also very concerned with the privacy of your data. Therefore, all servers are located in Switzerland. Although your psychiatrist has to offer some basic information (sex and age), the upload can be done anonymously. There is no need to provide your real name or adress. DeepPsy is in the process of certification as a medical device in switzerland and the European Union.

Question 6

What does DeepPsy do?

Accepted Answer

DeepPsy processes your electrophysiological data according to the latest findings of evidence based research in this field (for more information on the used biomarkers, click here). This results in the computation of different parameters derived from your brainwaves and heart activity. These parameters can be interpreted on which treatment options might be best for you. Further, DeepPsy collects the data from many patients (only if the patients agree) and trains its own Deep Neural Networks to identify even better patterns for the prediction of treatment response. This guarantees that DeepPsy improves its service with every customer.

Question 7

How much does it cost and who will pay for it?

Accepted Answer

The processing of your data and the final report on your data will be charged with 195.- CHF. At the moment, the service is not covered by insurances. In the future, we will approach the insurances to make these services available via the basic insurance.

Question 8

Can I save money?

Accepted Answer

You can save 100$ if you allow us to use your EEG and ECG data to improve our service. This means, you or your psychiatrist will have to tell us which treatment you finaly chose and how your felt eight weeks afterwards. If you provide these informations via the DeepPsy WebApp, you will get back 100$.

Question 9

Why only depression?

Accepted Answer

At the moment, DeepPsy focuses on depressive disorders. This is due to the fact that most evidence and research is available for depression. However, at DeepPsy, we are working hard to extend our service. Future options to use DeepPsy will include the probabilities to have a psychosis, for response to stimulant medication in ADHD and treatment options to other neuropsychiatric conditions.

Question 10

What is an EEG?

Accepted Answer

The electroencephalogram is a non-invasive technique to measure the activity of the neuronal cells of your cortex. It has been invented almost 100 years ago and is used in many hospitals and practises around the world.  To record an EEG, many electrodes are placed on the scalp of the head. Often, these electrodes are located inside a textile cap that can be put on your head by a technician.Via an amplifier, these elecrodes record the very small voltage differences that result from your working brain. For DeepPsy, you do not have to do anything during recording. DeepPsy is specialized on analyzing so called restings state recordings. This means, you can lay with your eyes closed. EEG data is then stored in the computer and later can be uploaded to DeepPsy. To get to know more on EEG we recommend the freely avalable series on pioneers of the EEG from the Brainclinics Foundation.

Question 11

What is an ECG?

Accepted Answer

The electrocardiogram is a recording of the activity of the heart. Two or more electrodes will be placed on either your chest or your wrists and feet. Then, the signals can be recorded while you are lying. You probably have had an ECG before at your physician. The ECG is also recorded simultaneously when you get an EEG recording. DeepPsy is working on the usage of data of your heart activity that can be derived from todays smart devices such as your fitness tracker or even your smartphone. These devices allow for the extraction of the so called R-peak which holds many information on your nervous system.

Question 12

Where do I get an EEG or ECG?

Accepted Answer

Many practises have an EEG, e.g. to exclude or diagnose neurological disorders. Also in certain hospitals, the EEG is a standard technique and is used in clincial routine. If your psychiatrist does not have an EEG device, he might refer you to a neurologist to get an EEG and ECG.

Question 13

What Biomarkers do you use?

Accepted Answer

For now, DeepPsy uses the following biomarkers: ​ 1. Frontal Alpha Asymetry and Occipital Alpha Asymetry 2. EEG-Vigilance 3. Alpha-Peak Frequency 4. Heart Rate Variability