Depression Screening with PHQ-9 Combined with Facial Emotion Analysis

Depression is one of the psychiatric diseases that has a high impact on the world population, including the Thai population. Suicide statistics around the world show a continuous increasing trend, with more than 700,000 people worldwide completing suicide. Therefore, screening to detect depression and provide treatment is crucial. Currently, the Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Mental Health in Thailand use the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as a standard tool for screening and assessing the severity of such symptoms [1]. This research presents the development of a tool for screening and assessing the severity of depressive symptoms. We introduce the development of a web application to make screening for depressed patients efficient and easily accessible. Each PHQ-9 question is presented in a story format, and answers are selected based on the situations presented. Additionally, facial emotions are assessed throughout the screening period via the device's camera. We apply image processing technology (Image Processing) to detect movements of facial expression muscles, making screening and assessing the severity of depressive symptoms more effective. The sample group for testing was selected from individuals aged 15-29 years, as this group has the highest number of suicides among people with depression, totaling 52 individuals. It was found that depression screening with PHQ-9 combined with facial emotion analysis can help individuals feel more relaxed. Statistical data values for the results of the satisfaction evaluation were in the high range (average 4.10 and standard division 0.44).