Psychomotor function in affective disorders: an overview of new monitoring techniques.

Clinicians and researchers lack accuracy in assessing psychomotor functions of patients. Several objective monitoring techniques have recently been proposed with the goal of compiling accurate determinations. These include electromyographic determinations of facial expressions of emotion, measurement of speech phonation and pause times, and use of movement-activated recording monitors to quantify motility. Objective psychomotor assessments may improve classification, longitudinal monitoring, treatment selection, and prediction of outcome for patients with depression and mania.