Research

Ten years of digital phenotyping research.

Digital phenotyping is the measurement of human behaviour through personal devices. The publications and projects below document ten years of Behapp-based research, from the first sociability score to transdiagnostic clinical studies across Europe.

Publications

Aalbers G, Costanzo A, Jagesar R, Lamers F, Kas MJH, Penninx BWJH

Using Smartphone-Tracked Behavioral Markers to Recognize Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: Cross-Sectional Digital Phenotyping Study

JMIR Mental Health · 2026;13:e80765

Leaning IE, Costanzo A, Jagesar R, Reus LM, Visser PJ, Kas MJH, Beckmann CF, Ruhé HG, Marquand AF

Uncovering Social States in Healthy and Clinical Populations Using Digital Phenotyping and Hidden Markov Models: Observational Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2025;27:e64007

Langener AM, Bringmann LF, Kas MJ, Stulp G

Predicting Mood Based on the Social Context Measured Through the Experience Sampling Method, Digital Phenotyping, and Social Networks

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research · 2024;51:455–475

Kas MJH, Jongs N, Mennes M, Penninx BWJH, Arango C, van der Wee N, et al.

Digital behavioural signatures reveal trans-diagnostic clusters of Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease patients

European Neuropsychopharmacology · 2024;78:3–12

Muurling M, Reus LM, de Boer C, Wessels SC, Jagesar RR, Vorstman JAS, Kas MJH, Visser PJ

Assessment of Social Behavior Using a Passive Monitoring App in Cognitively Normal and Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: Observational Study

JMIR Aging · 2022;5(2):e33856

Jongs N, Penninx B, Arango C, Ayuso-Mateos JL, van der Wee N, Winter-van Rossum I, et al.

Effect of disease related biases on the subjective assessment of social functioning in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia patients

Journal of Psychiatric Research · 2022;145:302–308

Sverdlov O, Curcic J, Hannesdottir K, Gou L, De Luca V, Ambrosetti F, et al.

A Study of Novel Exploratory Tools, Digital Technologies, and Central Nervous System Biomarkers to Characterize Unipolar Depression

Frontiers in Psychiatry · 2021;12:640741

Jagesar RR, Roozen MC, van der Heijden I, Ikani N, Tyborowska A, Penninx BWJH, Ruhé HG, Sommer IEC, Kas MJ, Vorstman JAS

Digital phenotyping and the COVID-19 pandemic: Capturing behavioral change in patients with psychiatric disorders

European Neuropsychopharmacology · 2021;42:115–120

Jagesar RR, Vorstman JA, Kas MJ

Requirements and Operational Guidelines for Secure and Sustainable Digital Phenotyping: Design and Development Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2021;23(4):e20996

Jongs N, Jagesar R, van Haren NEM, Penninx BWJH, Reus L, Visser PJ, et al.

A framework for assessing neuropsychiatric phenotypes by using smartphone-based location data

Translational Psychiatry · 2020;10:211

Mulder T, Jagesar RR, Klingenberg AM, Mifsud Bonnici JP, Kas MJ

New European privacy regulation: Assessing the impact for digital medicine innovations

European Psychiatry · 2018;54:57–58

Eskes P, Spruit M, Brinkkemper S, Vorstman J, Kas MJ

The sociability score: App-based social profiling from a healthcare perspective

Computers in Human Behavior · 2016;59:39–48

Projects & partnerships

Behapp has been deployed in population cohorts, EU consortium projects, and clinical studies since 2016.

Lifelines

2022 · 2 years

A population-based cohort study validating Behapp-based digital measures of social functioning and examining how these measures relate to genetics.

University research funding · 2,000 participants

PRISM 2

2021 · 3 years

Examines the reproducibility of transdiagnostic relationships between default mode network integrity and social dysfunction across schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and major depressive disorder, with Behapp providing validated digital measures of daily social functioning.

Innovative Medicines Initiative (EU) · 180 participants

PSY-PGx

2021 · 5 years

Implements Behapp in clinical trials across nine European sites for passive and active patient monitoring, deriving behavioural endpoints to support pharmacogenetics-based personalised psychiatry.

EU Horizon 2020 · 2,500 participants

NESDA

2020 · ongoing

A longitudinal cohort study investigating the long-term prognosis of anxiety and depression, collecting data on biological factors, psychiatric symptoms, health, demographics and social activity.

ZonMw / Geestkracht and university research funding · 3,100 participants

Memorabel

2018 · 5 years

Explores environmental factors in the development of dementia, with Behapp validating digital social-health indicators as predictors of cognitive decline.

ZonMw Memorabel programme · 500 participants

SMARD

2017 · ongoing

Investigates neurobiological resilience mechanisms and depression relapse risk, using Behapp to identify novel digital markers for relapse prediction.

Dutch Brain Foundation · 170 participants

ROADMAP

2016 · 3 years

Real-world outcomes across the Alzheimer's disease spectrum: an integrated data environment for real-world evidence, with Behapp studying digital measures of daily functioning.

Innovative Medicines Initiative (EU) · 286 participants

PRISM

2016 · 4 years

Develops quantitative biological approaches to neuropsychiatric disease classification, with Behapp providing transdiagnostic digital measures of daily social functioning.

Innovative Medicines Initiative (EU) · 160 participants