PsychologyJuly 8, 2026
phenotyping
/ˈfiːnoʊˌtaɪpɪŋ/
Definition
The process of using behavioral, contextual, and sensor-based data from personal digital devices to categorize and infer an individual's mental health status and patterns.
Etymology
Derived from 'phenotype,' combining the Greek 'phainein' (to show) and 'typos' (type/mark), with the 'digital' prefix denoting its modern application via technological tracking.
In the news
In the article, 'digital phenotyping' is described as a technological advancement that utilizes smartphone and wearable data to capture longitudinal insights about a patient, which helps inform precision mental health interventions.
Transforming psychological practice with precision mental health: introduction to the NOVA project
Read the full article ↗Frontiers