InnoStars Talks reinventing mental health diagnosis, with MoodMon’s Dr Marlena Sokół-Szawłowska

With help from EIT Health, a team in Poland is reinventing the way we diagnose and treat mental illness.

Mental health disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, affect millions worldwide. Across Europe alone, an estimated 84 million people experience mental health challenges, imposing immense strain not only on individuals and families but also on healthcare systems and economies.  

Traditional psychiatric assessments, grounded largely in 19th-century methodologies, can struggle to detect subtle shifts in a patient’s condition before a crisis emerges. 

Enter MoodMon, a groundbreaking AI-powered solution developed by Warsaw-based innovators that promises earlier detection and intervention, potentially helping patients avoid relapses, hospitalisations, or even tragic outcomes like suicide. With fresh support from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Health, this digital tool stands poised to radically modernise psychiatric practice. 

A one million-euro vote of confidence 

In a competitive flagship call from EIT Health, Poland’s BrightMed—working in close collaboration with the Psychiatry and Neurology Institute in Warsaw—recently secured a one million euros grant to advance the development and implementation of MoodMon.  

This funding, and the accompanying support network, put MoodMon on track to become Europe’s first certified digital therapeutic solution for diagnosing and monitoring affective disorders. 

“Receiving this grant marks a critical milestone,” says dr Marlena Sokół-Szawłowska, a psychiatrist at the Psychiatry and Neurology Institute in Warsaw and a leading researcher on the MoodMon project. “We are now in a stronger position to prove MoodMon’s clinical value, secure medical certifications, and bring its benefits to patients across Europe.” 

The status quo in psychiatric assessment often relies heavily on subjective measures—interviews, observations, and self-reported symptoms. While vital, these tools can miss early warning signs. MoodMon tackles this challenge head-on. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, it analyses objective data from patients’ everyday lives. 

The solution collects a wide range of biomarkers: voice parameters, sleep patterns, physical activity, and digital communication habits. Historically, clinicians have known that voice changes can hint at shifting mental states, but only now—thanks to advanced AI—can these subtle signals be measured precisely and consistently. 

“Imagine having an early detection system that picks up the subtle tremors of a looming depressive episode or the onset of mania,” says Dr Sokół-Szawłowska. “MoodMon’s machine learning algorithms use data collected directly from patients’ smartphones and wearables to predict changes in mood with impressive accuracy.” 

Stellar clinical results 

In its initial clinical trial, MoodMon achieved nearly 90 per cent sensitivity and 99 per cent specificity in detecting mood changes in patients with affective disorders.  

“These numbers are remarkable,” notes Dr Sokół-Szawłowska. “This is a significant leap from traditional methods and demonstrates AI’s power to capture patterns that even trained professionals might miss.” 

Backed by a consortium of leading European institutions—including university hospitals in Madrid, Córdoba, and Stockholm, as well as the Karolinska Institute—MoodMon’s team aims to validate the solution across different healthcare settings. The project also involves commercial partners like DKV Salud, which could help integrate MoodMon into health insurance offerings and clinical care pathways. 

EIT Health’s support underscores Europe’s commitment to tackling its mental health challenges head-on. With mental health-related productivity losses estimated at 118 billion euros annually in the EU, healthcare innovators and policymakers alike recognise the urgent need for cost-effective, scalable solutions.  

MoodMon aligns perfectly with this mission, aiming to support at least 150,000 patients across Europe by 2028. 

But beyond sheer numbers, the MoodMon team envisions a paradigm shift in psychiatric care. Instead of reacting to fully developed episodes of depression or mania, healthcare providers could intervene at the earliest signs—sometimes even before patients notice any changes themselves.  

This proactive model not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces the burden on healthcare systems, freeing up resources for those who need them most. 

Building the future of mental health care 

Achieving medical certification and integrating AI tools into clinical practise requires careful navigation of regulatory and legal frameworks. With guidance from academic partners, commercial insurers, and organizations like EIT Health and Medway Foundation, MoodMon is well on its way to achieving CE marking and establishing itself as a trusted player in Europe’s digital health landscape. 

“We’re entering a new era,” says Dr Sokół-Szawłowska. “By combining data science, clinical expertise, and user-friendly mobile technology, we are forging a path that will shape the future of mental health care. Thanks to the EIT Health grant and the support of a robust European network, we have the opportunity to bring MoodMon’s benefits not just to Poland, but to patients throughout Europe—and eventually the world.”

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