Modern Smart Gadgets and Wearables for Diagnosis and Management of Stress, Wellness, and Anxiety: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The increasing development of gadgets to evaluate stress, wellness, and anxiety has garnered significant attention in recent years. These technological advancements aim to expedite the identification and subsequent treatment of these prevalent conditions. This study endeavors to critically examine the latest smart gadgets and portable techniques utilized for diagnosing depression, stress, and emotional trauma while also exploring the underlying biochemical processes associated with their identification. Integrating various detectors within smartphones and smart bands enables continuous monitoring and recording of user activities. Given their widespread use, smartphones, smartwatches, and smart wristbands have become indispensable in our daily lives, prompting the exploration of their potential in stress detection and prevention. When individuals experience stress, their nervous system responds by releasing stress hormones, which can be easily identified and quantified by smartphones and smart bands. The study in this paper focused on the examination of anxiety and stress and consistently employed "heart rate variability" (HRV) characteristics for diagnostic purposes, with superior outcomes observed when HRV was combined with "electroencephalogram" (EEG) analysis. Recent research indicates that electrodermal activity (EDA) demonstrates remarkable precision in identifying anxiety. Comparisons with HRV, EDA, and breathing rate reveal that the mean heart rate employed by several commercial wearable products is less accurate in identifying anxiety and stress. This comprehensive review article provides an evidence-based evaluation of intelligent gadgets and wearable sensors, highlighting their potential to accurately assess stress, wellness, and anxiety. It also identifies areas for further research and development.

Keywords: anxiety; health sensors; psychological behavioral; smart gadgets; stress detection.

Figure 1

Psychological and Behavioral stress symptoms.

Figure 2

Joint role of various aspects in stress detection.

Figure 3

The three-tiered classification system for wrist-worn gadget features.

Figure 4

Smartphone RGB and thermal cameras may be used to monitor a person’s physiological state: (a) smartphone with a thermal camera, (b) flashlight emitting diode emission, and (c) designed software interface [119].

Figure 5

Infrared thermal imaging of a smartphone’s back flashlight emitted diode: (a) earlier switching on the LED, (b) next 10–15 s, and (c) later 25–30 s [120].

Figure 6

Determining stress using a context-based approach in open situations.

Figure 7

Stress handling process as per human behavior.