Detects the risk of depression in children through the eyes

The size of pupil enlargement in children when shown with certain images can predict whether he or she is at risk of depression in the next 2 years, according to UPI news agency.

How to detect the risk of depression in children

Researchers at Binghamton University in New York (USA) have discovered that measuring the mechanical response in the eye is a warning sign of the risk that a child with a mother with depression may develop it. always or not

Measuring the mechanical response in the eye is a warning sign of the risk of a child having depression
or not - (Artwork: Shutterstock)

' We think the process of investigating this issue could eventually lead to mass screening at the pediatrician's office to assess the risk of future depression in children,' said Brandon Gibb, Professor of psychology at Binghamton University, said.

In a small but highly convincing study, children of 47 mothers with a history of severe depression were shown fun, angry and sad images; while researchers track the expansion of pupils in the eyes of the study subjects.

The team followed the mother and daughter couple for the next two years. They found that babies with more dilated pupils were shown a depressive picture with higher depressive symptoms and had time to lead to a short 'clinically significant' depression. than.

The research results are not related to any of the pupil's reactions to happy or angry images.

Research results have been published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.