Researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnosing a severe form of depression by analysing facial expressions and brain activity. The study was conducted by researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia’s state of Queensland. The researchers said that they have discovered how to diagnose melancholia by analysing a person as they watch a film.

Melancholia is a severe form of depression. It is linked to profound sadness or a deep sense of despair. Melancholia is a condition historically linked to both emotional and psychological states. Melancholia differs from other depressive disorders due to its intense severity and biological underpinnings which are often accompanied by physical symptoms like changes in appetite, sleep disturbances and slowed movement or speech.

Melancholia is classified as a subtype of major depressive disorder which is recognised for its distinct patterns in brain activity, including reduced responsiveness to external stimuli. Treatment for the condition often involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication which emphasizes the need for tailored approaches to manage its profound impact on daily life.

People affected by melancholia can experience deep, long-lasting sadness and slowed speech, thoughts and movements and they are less likely to respond to psychological treatments and often need strong medication or brain stimulation to recover.

Phillip Mosley, lead author of the new study said that early and accurate diagnosis of melancholia is critical. The research team used artificial intelligence to analyse the facial expressions of 70 clinical trial participants with depression as they watched a funny movie. The participants then watched an emotional short film while their brain activity was measured.

Mosley said that the participants with melancholia responded differently to the stimuli than people with non-melancholic depression. He said, “People with melancholia looked flat and didn’t smile during a funny video. This visible difference was confirmed mathematically when we did a comprehensive analysis of the movements of facial muscles involved in smiling.”

Furthermore, the brains of those with melancholia registered a flattened or blunted response during uplifting scenes in an emotional film, Xinhua news agency reported. Mosley said, “The research will allow general practitioners and other clinicians to diagnose people with melancholic depression more quickly and accurately, having them well again and feeling connected to their loved ones sooner.”

The team will next explore the theory that melancholic depression could be better treated with neuromodulation which is a medical technique that uses electrical stimulation or chemical agents to improve the function of the nervous system.

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