This work synthesizes—it does not invent. We build explicitly on the contributions of researchers who have spent years and careers advancing this field.
Harvard Medical School / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Pioneer of digital phenotyping—the idea that passive smartphone data can provide insights into mental health. Developer of mindLAMP, an open-source platform for digital mental health research.
Torous et al. (2020). Digital phenotyping and mobile sensing in mental health.
Psychiatry Research.
Torous & Roberts (2017). Creating boundaries to empower digital health technology.
BJPsych Open.
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Decades of foundational research on heart rate variability biofeedback. Helped establish the mechanisms by which HRV biofeedback works and demonstrated its clinical applications.
Lehrer & Gevirtz (2014). Heart rate variability biofeedback: How and why does it work? Frontiers in Psychology.
Indiana University / Kinsey Institute
Developer of Polyvagal Theory, which provides the theoretical foundation for understanding how the autonomic nervous system relates to social engagement and mental health.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Leader in developing and rigorously testing digital mental health interventions. Pioneered research on computerized CBT and telehealth for depression.
An open-source platform for digital phenotyping developed by Dr. Torous's team. Allows researchers and clinicians to collect active and passive data, deliver interventions, and conduct research.
We've learned from their approach to open-source, privacy-first design, and integration of passive sensing with active engagement.
The UK's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies program—the largest implementation of evidence-based psychological therapy in the world. Treats 1.5+ million people annually.
We've learned from their stepped care model, measurement-based approach, and self-referral systems.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers represent a scalable approach to comprehensive community mental health, with demonstrated outcomes in reducing ED visits and hospitalizations.
We've learned from their integration model and focus on comprehensive, community-based care.
Youth-focused integrated mental health centers with online extension (eHeadspace). Over 150 centers serving young people 12-25.
We've learned from their youth-friendly design, integration of services, and digital extension approach.
Our claims are grounded in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Key sources include:
| Topic | Key Source | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Digital CBT (Depression) | Andersson & Cuijpers, 2009 | d = 0.54 vs controls |
| Digital CBT (Anxiety) | Olthuis et al., 2016 (Cochrane) | d = 0.49 vs controls |
| HRV Biofeedback (Anxiety) | Goessl et al., 2017 | d = 0.81 vs controls |
| App Engagement | Baumel et al., 2019 | < 4% retention at 14 days |
| Digital Mindfulness | Spijkerman et al., 2016 | d = 0.35-0.55 |
| Personalization | 2023 Systematic Review | Mixed evidence, mostly weak |
Several open-source projects have paved the way for digital mental health research:
Open-source digital phenotyping platform from Beth Israel Deaconess.
Open-source mobile data collection framework for research.
Open standards for mobile health data.
The researchers named here have spent years—often decades—building the foundation we stand on. We are synthesizers, not originators. When we discuss digital phenotyping, we're summarizing Dr. Torous's work. When we discuss HRV biofeedback, we're applying Dr. Lehrer's protocols.
If we've misrepresented anyone's work, we want to know. If we've failed to credit someone, we want to correct it. Science advances through collaboration and honest attribution.
Contact us: If you see work that should be attributed or an error in how we've characterized research, please reach out through the 22b1 correspondence page.
MindBridge is one project within the broader 22b1 Research Initiative, which works across domains including: