Emotion Sensors for PTSD

It seems like there is interest in an Emotion Sensor that would help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

First, let's lay down a little groundwork....

• PTSD is explained here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder.  
• Emotions -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion
• Affective Computing - tool to study emotions -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affective_computing
• Biofeedback - used to modify emotional response -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback
• Flight or Fight Response and PTSD -  http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/fight_flight.htm
• Galvanic Skin Response, as used in many emotion sensors -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_skin_response

As you can see from above, this is an old topic.  Measuring emotions, feeding back messages, etc. has been known for some time.  Below is some of the latest activity relating sensing emotions for those with PTSD.

• https://www.beckinstitute.org/blog/cbt-for-drug-addiction-and-ptsd-via-wearable-sensor-platform-and-mobile-application/ - wearable sensors and phone therapeutic messages
• http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2012/02/27/turning_cellphones_and_sensors_into_a_therapy_for_ptsd_drug_cravings/ - cellphones and sensors
• https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/02/27/turning-cellphones-and-sensors-into-therapy-for-ptsd-drug-cravings/jPGtqvRsLVSkJbLMbZMvcJ/story.html - shows photos of devices
• http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/02/26/upcoming-app-to-help-drug-addicts-curb-cravings-with-sensor-text-messages/ - iHeal smartphone app
• Methods and apparatus for monitoring patients and delivering therapeutic stimuli Richard Fletcher et al - U.S. Patent Application 2011/0004072 A1
• DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Robert Goldberg et al - - U.S. Patent Application 2011/0245633 A1
• EAR-WORN BIOFEEDBACK DEVICE Chang-An Chou - U.S. Patent Application 2010/0280338 A1
• http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/11/driven-to-distraction-how-veterans-affairs-uses-monitoring-technology-to-help-returning-veterans-adjust-to-normal-day-to-day-living.html - VA Center using sensors...
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVsKErmv57E - Emotion Q Sensor Video
• http://exmovere.cn/pdf/Emotions_Research.pdf - Emotion Monitoring
• Washable wearable biosensor Rosalind W. Picard et al - U.S. Patent Application 2010/0268056 A1

More can be found by Googling these search strings....

• (sensor OR detector) (PTSD OR post-traumatic-stress-disorder) (phone OR telephone)
• (stress OR emotion OR anxiety)-(sensor OR detector) (PTSD OR post-traumatic-stress-disorder)
• (stress OR emotion OR anxiety)-(sensor OR detector) (phone OR telephone)

-->

(PTSD OR post-traumatic-stress-disorder) (biofeedback OR biofeedback)  

For Skin Conductance Sensing, try this string - (Electrodermal- activity OR EDA OR skin-conductance OR galvanic-skin-response OR GSR OR electrodermal-response OR EDR OR psychogalvanic-reflex OR PGR OR skin-conductance-response OR SCR OR sympathetic-skin-response OR SSR OR skin-conductance-level OR SCL) (PTSD OR post-traumatic-stress-disorder)

From my own experience with biofeedback, this simple low-cost option might be helpful also....Complete GSR2/Temp2X Calmlink Pro System - http://www.mindgadgets.com/product/gsr-temp2x-biofeedback-system/


This recent posting might be of interest too - "Listen-n-feel: An Emotion Sensor on the Phone Using Speech Processing and Cloud Computing" - http://research.microsoft.com/apps/video/dl.aspx?id=152567 - Again this is just a new twist on old technology, e.g. voice stress analysis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_stress_analysis

There is now a flurry of activity around the AFFECTIVA,INC. emotion sensor - Here is one patent application that seems to apply - WO/2011/156272. Reading the first claim, it reminds me of how researchers used biofeedback to monitor people watching movies, many years ago. - http://www.soc.northwestern.edu/webster/pubs/Webster%20(2008)%20Audience%20Research.pdf - also - http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED017172&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED017172 - also - http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED326383&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED326383 ******************************************************************************************

Now you have a snapshot view of what's been done before, here's what else could be done....

• Have a bracelet, wrist watch, or similar that the user "believes" is sensing emotions and automatically adjusts the body and mind to relax.  This is the Placebo Effect -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo.  This effect works for about 35% of people all by itself.  Placebo devices are viewed by medical science as non-functional, but yet many  patients swear by them, e.g. copper bracelets.
• The Placebo Effect might work better if the user is given hypnotic suggestions.  "It could be said that hypnotic suggestion is explicitly intended to make use of the placebo effect. For example, in 1994, Irving Kirsch characterized hypnosis as a "nondeceptive placebo," i. e., a method that openly makes use of suggestion and employs methods to amplify its effects." -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis
• The device could even work better if it were potentized, activated, or blessed.  Doctors could say words like "it works for some people, and I (emphasized) think it will work for you!".  Military, where PTSD may have formed, could endorse its use.  Clergy could bless the device.  Support group members could pass the the device around and add energy.
• To make it work better yet, make it look like it's doing something, e.g. an led that flashes periodically, similar to the led on your car warning system letting you know you're protected.  See attached image above.

If interested in this latter approach, Harvard might help you implement such a device - http://programinplacebostudies.org/ . 

Have fun, folks.  I am!

Disclaimer - Posting is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.