Dr. Pip Clery of UCL Wins Prestigious Research Award for Study Conducted with data from juli AI-Powered App
Association between temperature and depression
Boston, July 25, 2024 – Dr. Pip Clery from University College London (UCL) has been awarded the 2024 Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress poster prize in the Research category for her groundbreaking study on the impact of outdoor ambient temperature on mental health. The award-winning research, titled “The association between outdoor ambient temperature and depression and mania: an ecological momentary assessment study,” was presented at the Congress held in June in Edinburgh, UK.
This pioneering study, based on data from the AI-powered mental health app, juli, utilized data from users with depression and bipolar disorder to explore the relationship between temperature changes and mental health symptoms. Dr. Clery and her team discovered that every degree increase in temperature correlated with a reduction in depressive symptoms and an increase in manic symptoms, even after accounting for other weather variables and personal characteristics.
The research marks a significant advancement as the first study to leverage geolocated weather data on a large scale to examine climate effects on mental health. The findings hold promise for the future of personalized mental health care and interventions, highlighting the potential of digital health tools like juli in understanding and managing mental health conditions.
Dr. Joseph F Hayes, Professor at UCL and Chief Medical Officer of juli said “The study’s success is a testament to the power of technology and research collaboration. juli, an AI-driven app, supports individuals with chronic conditions, including mental health disorders, by offering personalized insights and interventions. The app’s ability to integrate geolocated weather data with user-reported symptoms has opened new avenues for understanding the dynamic relationship between the environment and mental health.”
“We are thrilled to have contributed to Dr. Clery’s award-winning research,” said juli’s CEO Bettina Hein. “Our mission at juli is to empower individuals with actionable insights into their health, and this study exemplifies how innovative technology can drive impactful research and improve mental health outcomes.”
As climate change continues to affect weather patterns globally, the implications of this study are far-reaching, offering a critical perspective on the intersection of environmental changes and mental health. The findings pave the way for future research and interventions that can mitigate the adverse effects of climate on mental health.
