The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea has approved the first depression diagnosis support AI software-as-a-medical device in the country. 

Developed by local AI company Acryl, the product called ACRYL-D01 uses AI to analyse patient interviews to calculate their probability of having depression. It has also been designated as an innovative medical device. 

Founded in 2011, Acryl offers a technology platform for developing and managing generative AI infrastructure called Jonathan and a hospital information system that runs on the same AI.

THE LARGER TREND

The approval of Acryl's depression digital therapeutic device followed the same clearances issued last year in April to DTx for respiratory rehabilitation and another for the treatment of vision impairment due to cognitive illnesses.

Last year also saw two new AI technology products for spotting depression, a mood disorder affecting up to three in 10 Koreans each year. A mental health diary application called REDI, launched in September, screens for depression in a user's speech using genAI. In November, a multi-institutional research team published research on machine learning models that predict mood episodes, including depression, using sleep and circadian rhythm data from wearable devices.