Do you have experience of postnatal depression and want to share your story with researchers determined to learn more about the debilitating condition?
If so, all you need to do is download a free iPhone app and answers questions relating to your experience which will then be used by scientists who are seeking to help women who are diagnosed with the illness.
According to the Huffington Post, researchers with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have developed an app which allows women to answer a series of questions regarding their experience of postnatal depression.
In addition to this aspect of the investigation, women will be given the opportunity to donate a saliva sample which will allow researchers to determine whether the woman's experience of postnatal depression has any underlying genetic factors.
Commenting on the innovative new approach to research in the field, Katherine Stone, founder of blog Postpartum Progress, said: "Research studies, about anything really, are always so limited. Like, ‘If you want to join, you have to live in a certain area, you can’t be on any meds, you have to have had symptoms within the last X weeks."
"Women want to be able to share their information,” she continued. “They want to share their stories, and they even want to share their DNA if they feel like it can make an actual, on-the-ground difference in the lives of other women."
Aware that not every woman who would like to participate is in a position to do so, researchers are donating iPads to clinics which will allow those without to contribute their experience and ultimately assist in the investigation.
What are your thoughts?
