When assessing patient health, each treatment area has its own data collection tools. Think glucose monitors for diabetes or heart monitors for cardiovascular disease. However, in the field of mental health, clinicians rely on the patient's word. Self-reporting is incomplete and lacks objectivity, says George Eleftheriou, CEO and co-founder of Feel Therapeutics.
Feel aims to bring more complete and objective data collection to the field of mental health. The San Francisco-based startup does that using wearable technology that continuously collects data and provides recommendations.
“One of the things we hear is how bad people are at storytelling. [how they] “I cannot accurately portray what has happened over the past few weeks,” Eleftheriou said. “This is what we bring to the table. We uncover data.”
The Feel platform captures data via a wristband and continuously monitors physiological signs such as skin temperature, sweating, and heart rate. When you're stressed, you sweat, and when you're angry, your heart beats faster, Eleftheriou explained. These indicators provide insight into a person's emotional state. In addition to biological measurements, the platform monitors patient movements and counts interactions with other devices. This can also be an indicator of behavioral change.
The wristband connects to a mobile app and uses artificial intelligence and proprietary algorithms to process data and identify changes and patterns. Insights from this analysis could lead to data-driven interventions, such as suggesting users do breathing exercises or keep a mood diary.
Feel has some clinical data validating its approach. A single-arm study evaluating the technology in 30 patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder showed high levels of engagement with the platform and reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms. The results were published last year in the journal JMIR Formative Research. The authors note that this is a small study and further research in larger controlled clinical trials is needed to demonstrate efficacy.
Eleftheriou said more evidence is coming from larger studies. This study could support a submission to the FDA for clearance of the technology. However, the Feel platform is already being used to monitor patients' emotional states. Feel partners with pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations to use this technology in clinical trials of experimental neuropsychiatric drugs. The failure rate of clinical trials for such drugs is high. Failure is often due to high placebo response. Asked whether the technology could overcome these reactions, Eleftheriou said the Feel platform provides a more accurate and objective picture of a patient's mental health.
For Eleftheriou, Feel's mission is personal. Mr. Eleftheriou, a native of Greece, earned a graduate degree in electrical and computer engineering from Columbia University and then worked in management consulting in New York. He said the job caused anxiety and panic attacks. Therapists guided Eleftheriou through traditional techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mood journaling.
Feel co-founder Haris Tsirmpas is the company's chief technology officer and a longtime friend of Eleftheriou. One day, the two were talking about Tsimpas' biomedical engineering research. Eleftheriou said the discussion reminded him of his experience with psychotherapy, but there was no way to objectively measure changes in mental health. In 2015, Eleftheriou and Tsirmpas began developing the technology that would become the Feel platform.
Other companies have wearable technology to support pharmaceutical companies' clinical trials. Similar to Feel, Empatica's platform consists of a watch-like device that connects to a mobile app. To date, MIT spinout companies have received six FDA approvals for his technology. Beyond mental health, the platform can also be applied to therapeutic areas such as cardiology, dermatology, epilepsy, and sleep. Empatica's venture capital backers include Sanofi Ventures and RA Capital Management.
Feel has raised over $13 million in venture capital funding from companies including Felicis Ventures, Anthemis Exponential Ventures, and SOSV. In addition to generating evidence for pharmaceutical companies, Feel technology could also be used for real-world monitoring of patients taking neuropsychiatric drugs, Eleftheriou said. Monitoring the patient's mental state and providing recommendations will help the patient adhere to the treatment plan. Feel works with large employers and U.S.-based health plans in the United States and Europe to develop patient support programs. Eleftheriou said Feel technology can personalize interventions and support based on the data the platform is collecting. Rather than replacing therapists, the technology has the potential to enhance therapy sessions, he said.
“If we can provide that insight to the provider, the psychotherapist, in a more objective way before or during the session, this could be of tremendous value to them,” Eleftheriou said.
Image: John Land, Getty Images
