Quick Video Game May Identify Major Depressive Disorder

Summary: Scientists have found a new way to check for depression, and it involves playing a quick video game! In a recent study, people played a three-minute game where they tried to collect digital apples falling from trees. Healthy players stayed at a tree until it only dropped about five apples. But people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) gave up much faster, leaving when the tree was still dropping eight or nine apples.

This shows how depression can make people lose interest or pleasure in things quickly, which doctors call a change in their "decisional reference point." Doctors hope this simple smartphone game can help them check on patients from home instead of making them travel to the office for every visit.

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