Overview
Depressed patients talk differently when they are depressed compared to when they are well. But it is hard to actually measure what the differences are. The study team will record voice samples from patients with mood disturbances, like depression, over the course of their receiving an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) series. The study team will try and measure or quantify exactly what has changed in their speech and voice. The study team will choose ECT as it is one of the most effective and rapid treatment for depression. The study team will use a service provided by a company, NeuroLex, who has complex computer programs (artificial intelligence, AI) to analyze the voice samples.
Eligibility
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Any candidate for electroconvulsive therapy who is about to initiate their ECT course at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) for a clinically indicated diagnosis
- Age 18 to 90 years old
- Able to speak and understand English
- Able to give consent to participate in the study
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Any medical condition that limits the ability to speak or speak clearly, for example a history of head and/or neck cancer, spinal cord injury affecting speech, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or those with absence of critical anatomical structures involved in speech.
- Any voice characteristics that may limit the ability to speak English clearly including speech impediments or heavy accents (as evidenced by the pronunciation of the English language in such a non-standard way that research staff). If study staff have significant difficulty understanding the participant's responses in conversation, this may warrant exclusion.
- Patients who are receiving ECT by involuntary order, by order of their guardian, or by a court order, as evidenced by patient report or brief chart review.
- Patients who elect to not receive their full course of ECT at MUSC.