Innovating in the Detection of Depression in Young Adults: Development of a Mobile Application Based on the Enhanced Cascade Model

Abstract

Depression is a disorder that usually begins in early adulthood, having a duration according to the World Health Organization (WHO) from a couple of months to a couple of years, however, in approximately 20% of cases there is a chronic evolution that results in a high mortality rate by suicide due to lack of adequate treatment. Therefore, the objective of this project is to facilitate the tools for an adequate care of depression, mainly in young adults through the development of a mobile application that monitors patients.  To carry out the project, the enhanced cascade model was implemented, because the feedback between the different phases of the system development life cycle is important to make the appropriate modifications. The application of interviews and the use of brainstorming were the selected way in which all the system requirements were designed and the goals to be met by the system were adequately defined.