Translational Science Benefits
Summary
This research has community, economic, and policy implications. The framework for these implications was derived from the Translational Science Benefits Model created by the Institute of Clinical & Translational Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
The goal of this work is to create technology that uses physiological measures to help adolescents identify symptoms of stress dysregulation associated with worsening suicidal ideation (SI). This will allow early identification and interventions to prevent emergency department visits and suicide attempts (SA). Dr. Sheridan and his team, via a pilot study and clinical trial,1 are in the process of testing technology that will be available in wearable devices such as smartwatches. This technology measures activity, sleep, and heart rate variability in adolescents with acute suicidality. Additionally, algorithms will be set so that patients receive timely feedback in order to implement their own coping strategies. This feedback loop will help prevent SI/SA because patients are informed of their biological responses and empowered to act in order to prevent their own potential SI.
The research, scheduled to be completed in 2022, will collect data to refine the technology and assess the ability of therapeutic interventions to modify these physiologic parameters. This technology has the ability to be incorporated into existing technology around 2025.
Significance
This project was motivated by a substantial increase in suicidal patients presenting in the emergency room, especially adolescents. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24 .2 Emergency Department (ED) visits of suicidal adolescents has doubled in the past nine years, with estimated annual visits for SA/SI between 2007 and 2015 increasing from 580,000 to 1.12 million.3 Additionally, there is an economic cost to suicide in the United States. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that the United States lost $50.8 billion dollars in medical and work loss costs.4
Benefits
Demonstrated benefits are those that have been observed and are verifiable.
Potential benefits are those logically expected with moderate to high confidence.
Development of wearable device technology that measures physiological responses. demonstrated.
Clinical
Development of wearable device technology that provides feedback to patients and families on patient physiological stress. demonstrated.
Clinical
Development of new procedure whereby wearable device signals patients and families to act on stress levels. potential.
Clinical
Data from wearable device can help prevent SI/SA, a public health issue. potential.
Community
Support for access to mental healthcare by providing essential data direct to patient. potential.
Community
Reduction of SI/SA by notifying patients to implement coping skills in times of stress. potential.
Community
Establishment of an intellectual property license for the algorithms and the technology. demonstrated.
Economic
Development of a start-up to develop and manufacture wearable device technology. potential.
Economic
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- ClinicalTrials.gov. National Library of Medicine (U.S.). (2017, January 25 – ). Wearable Suicidal Early Warning System for Adolescents. Identifier NCT03030924. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
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- National Institute of Mental Health. Suicide. Accessed online at on December 17, 2019.
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- Burstein, B., Agostino, H., Greenfield, B. (2019). Suicidal attempts and ideation among children and adolescents in US emergency departments, 2007-2015. JAMA Pediatrics, 173, 598-600.
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- Florence, C., Simon, T., Haegerich, T., Luo, F., & Zhou, C. Estimated Lifetime Medical and Work Loss Costs of Fatal Injury. United States 2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2015; 64(38), 1078-1082.
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- Institute of Clinical & Translational Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Translational Science Benefits Model website. Published February 1, 2019. Accessed March 18, 2020.