"My research aims to fundamentally improve the lives of those at risk of or living with bipolar disorder, especially youth and their families," -Dr. Aroldo DargélThe first symptoms of bipolar and other mood disorders often appear before age 25, but there are no tools to catch them early.

Determined to change this, psychiatrist Dr. Aroldo Dargél is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to give clinicians real-time insights into their patients' mood and behavior patterns. He explains that while a psychiatrist might grasp how a patient feels on a particular day, what's crucial is track the dynamic changes in mood and behavior over time—capturing a "movie" rather than a snapshot.

With early detection and timely intervention, Dr. Dargél aims to reduce the risks of suicide, cardiovascular issues, and dementia associated with bipolar disorder.

"My research aims to fundamentally improve the lives of those at risk of or living with bipolar disorder, especially youth and their families," he says. "By closely monitoring and interpreting behavioral changes we may predict and avert major crises, while minimizing their potentially devastating impacts."

Recently appointed as an associate scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Dr. Dargél also serves as a psychiatrist at The Ottawa Hospital, an associate professor, and the director of residents' research at the University of Ottawa's Department of Psychiatry. He is also an affiliate scientist at the Perception-Memory Laboratory at the Pasteur Institute.

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.