DU research study to see if AI can screen for anxiety, depression in youth [Video]

DENVER — A new research study led by Johnny Kim, a professor at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work, is looking to determine whether artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to screen for anxiety and depression in youth.

The study is testing software from Ellipsis Health, which recruited help from Kim. The vocal biomarker technology, which has already been validated for adults, allows students to engage in a 90-second conversation about their feelings on any device with a microphone and an internet connection. The recordings are analyzed by the software’s algorithm to flag students for anxiety and depression.

Pictured: University of Denver Professor Johnny Kim, who is tasked with seeing if the AI technology is effective at identifying anxiety and depression in youth.

“It looks at both the acoustics in terms of how words are said, as well as the semantics, what is said specifically,” explained Kim. …