The use of a socially assistive robot in individuals with depression during acute psychiatric inpatient treatment – preliminary RCT results

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses worldwide [1] affecting around 322 million people, with a rising tendency [2]. In Europe, the resulting costs amount to 170 billion euros per year, with 50% of depressions being untreated [2]. The lack of motivation is an essential problem in the treatment of depression, which is associated with a lack of adherence to therapy and exercise. This makes it difficult for sufferers to achieve lifestyle changes [3]. Cognitive training can improve the symptomatology of depression and is increasingly replaced by training sessions with a computerized program. Moreover, people respond better to robots than to tabletbased instructions [4]. Therefore, it is important to focus on cognitive training sessions delivered by a socially supportive robot. In addition, it is important to monitor routinely measured laboratory parameters, such as the inflammatory parameters hsCRP or IL6, but also parameters of tryptophan depletion (as Kyn/Trp) [5].