Apparatus for determining and/or assess depression severity of a patient

An apparatus for determining and/or assessing depression severity of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• an input unit;
• an image display unit;
• at least one sensor;
• and
• a processing unit;
• wherein, the image display unit is configured to present a plurality of images to a patient and wherein the plurality of images are of different human facial expressions, wherein the image display unit is configured to present a first image of the plurality of images to the left visual field of the patient and present a second image of the plurality of images to the right visual field of the patient;
• wherein, the input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with MRI scan image data of the patient, wherein the MRI scan image data of the patient comprises MRI scan image data of at least one part of the patient's brain associated with recognition of facial expressions and/or associated with affective disorders, and wherein the MRI scan image data of the patient comprises image data of at least one part of the brain associated with viewing an image with the right visual field and image data of at least one part of the brain associated with viewing an image with the left visual field;
• wherein the processing unit is configured to determine which image of the first image or second image is gaining the most attention from the patient, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the image data of the at least one part of the brain associated with viewing an image with the right visual field and the image data of at least one part of the brain associated with viewing an image with the left visual field to determine which image is gaining the most attention by the patient;
• wherein, the at least one sensor is configured to acquire information relating to the patient's viewing of the plurality of images, wherein information relating to the patient's viewing of the plurality of images comprises information relating to the image that is gaining the most attention by the patient;
• wherein, the input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with the information relating to the patient's viewing of the plurality of images;
• and
• wherein, the processing unit is configured to determine and/or assess depression severity of the patient comprising utilization of the information relating to the patient's viewing of the plurality of images and the MRI scan image data of at least one part of the patient's brain associated with recognition of facial expressions and/or associated with affective disorders.