Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and MIT have created technologies that will enable cellphones to automatically detect and intervene when a person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse problems needs support.

The first generation of the system includes wireless sensors that can measure stress symptoms and algorithms to detect patterns that suggest an emerging anxiety attack or drug craving.  The research was inspired by Rosalind Picard, a professor at the MIT Media Laboratory, who wrote about a future scenario in which evolving technologies, including wireless devices and sensors that can automatically track physical attributes, could be applied to real-world situations, such as helping support people fighting addiction.

Future research will include studying which intervention messages are most effective in helping patients manage stress and improving the software’s ability to use sensor data to detect what users are feeling or experiencing.