A Three-Minute Game Could Revolutionize Depression Diagnosis

Researchers at NYU Langone Health have developed a simple three-minute game to assess depression. The tool aims to provide an objective way to diagnose the condition and measure treatment success. Millions of people worldwide are affected by depression, yet diagnosis still often depends on subjective reports. The game involves players harvesting digital apples in exchange for virtual money. Healthy participants typically switched to a new tree when only four or five apples remained on the current one. In contrast, those with depression tended to move on earlier, when eight or nine apples were still available.

Both groups earned similar amounts, around $27, but patients with depression had much higher expectations for rewards. A second experiment showed healthy individuals quickly adjusted their assessment of snack values based on context. Those with depression struggled to update their expectations when conditions changed.

The study suggests that difficulty adapting expectations may be linked to depression. The game is designed to objectively measure anhedonia, a key symptom of the condition. The findings could lead to a rapid, objective test for depression. Such a tool might improve diagnosis and help track the effectiveness of treatments. It offers a potential alternative to current methods that rely heavily on patient questionnaires.