Researcher Develops New Digital Tool for People with Anxiety Disorders
By Mental Health Correspondent
A UK researcher is developing a cutting-edge app that could warn users they’re becoming anxious — before they even realise it themselves.
Luigi Moretti, a doctoral researcher at UWE Bristol, is behind MEMoPAD — a new digital tool that uses smartwatch data to track early signs of anxiety.
By analysing heart rate, skin temperature and sweat levels, the app can flag emotional changes and detect when anxiety may be building.
When this happens, users get an instant nudge to try calming techniques like deep breathing or meditation.
The tool also lets users log notes about their feelings and share the data with clinicians — helping improve conversations and treatment.
Anxiety disorders affect around one in 10 people in the UK, and Luigi believes his innovation could be a game-changer.
Explaining the inspiration behind MEMoPAD, he said:
“I’ve watched loved ones navigate the complexities of mental healthcare.
“Faced with their long-term struggles and feeling powerless to help despite my medical background, I saw a clear and urgent need for better tools and a more empathetic system, an opportunity to make a meaningful difference that couldn’t be ignored.”
Unlike many existing wearables that simply track stress, MEMoPAD aims to give users a clearer picture of their emotional patterns — and help them act sooner.
Luigi said: “Technology built in a vacuum often fails. Our foundation is built on listening. We use a co-design methodology, actively partnering with patients, clinicians, and carers at every stage.
“Their lived experiences and professional insights are not just feedback: they are the blueprint for building a tool that is truly relevant, safe, and effective.”
The project is still in development, with early prototypes now being prepared for testing — but hopes are high it could transform how anxiety is monitored and managed in the future.
