New Diagnostic System for Monitoring Therapy in Adolescents With Psychosis

An innovative research project could revolutionize the treatment of psychotic disorders in adolescents. As part of the model project “Industrie-in-Klinik Platform,” a research team is developing the sensor-based SYMPATHJA system, which is designed to detect movement disorders at an early stage.

Psychotic disorders are often accompanied by motor disorders, which can be caused by the illness itself or be side effects of antipsychotic drugs. The new system combines motion sensors with heart rate variability measurements to analyze subtle changes. This allows therapy to be tailored to the individual and side effects to be reduced.

The project, which is led by the University Hospital of Tübingen, the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, and HB Technologies AG, is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space. In the long term, it could contribute to earlier diagnosis of mental illness and enable preventive measures.

The clinical trial phase will begin in Q2/2026 and is scheduled to run until 2029.