Can pupil behaviour predict depression?

GPs able to tell whether someone needs to be treated for depression by using a pupil response test. If it was up to researcher Marie-José van Tol (UMCG/UG), that’s the future of depression treatment. Van Tol and her colleagues are researching preventive therapies for recurring depression. She uses an eye tracker that monitors how the pupil reacts to certain images or texts. This reaction can indicate a strong or weak control over emotions, and thus also susceptibility to depression. If this is so, a GP would be able to use a pupil response test to see whether someone needs preventive therapy or not.  

Van Tol is still looking for volunteers, who can register via the website of the depression research project. Marie-José van Tol is Assistant Professor at the UMCG/UG and founding member and committee member of the Young Academy Groningen .

More information

• Marie-José van Tol
• Hoe kunnen we terugkerende depressies voorkomen? [How can we prevent depression recurring?; Dutch article in Het Parool newspaper]
• Video about preventing relapses (in Dutch)
• Video on research into depression (in Dutch)
• Website on depression research (in Dutch)

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