The World Health Organization (WHO) report on mental health for 2001 (WHO. World Health Report. Geneva: WHO, 2001.) states that there are about 450 million people who suffer at a certain point of a neurological, psychiatric or behavior related disease, and about 25% of all the inhabitants in the world get a psychiatric or behavioral disorder at a certain moment in their life.

Focusing on brain disorder the WHO 2001 Report shows affective disease (depression and bipolar disorder) as one of the most important disorder in term of prevalence, and it ranks clinical depression as number 2 in the list of top ranking international health burdens by the year 2020, as measured by its impact as a cause of death, disability, incapacity to work and the use of medical resources. At any given point of time, 2-10% of the European population will suffer from a depressive illness. Currently, in the EU, some 58,000 citizens die from suicide every year, more than the annual deaths from road traffic accidents, homicide, or HIV/AIDS.

Most suicides (30-88%) in Europe can be attributed to affective disorders [Lönnqvist 2000]. Depression is associated with a high risk of suicide and suicide attempts. About 15% of patients with severe depression commit suicide, whilst 56% attempt suicide and the majority have suicidal ideas during depressive episodes [Jamison 2000]. One out of ten men and one out of five women will present a major depressive episode during his or her life. Bipolar disorders lifetime risk is classically considered around 1%. But evidence accumulated during the last two decades suggests that 20 to 40% of patients with a major depressive episode belong to the bipolar disorders spectrum (bipolar II, sub-threshold hypomania, antidepressant induced hypomania, depression associated to hypomanic symptoms, cyclothymic or hyperthymic temperaments). The frontier between unipolar depression and bipolar mood disorders is becoming increasingly less obvious. Bipolar disorders is also highly concerned by suicide risk. It shares also with recurrent major depression other risks such as long-term work disability, other secondary psychiatric disorders (addiction), poor physical health without mentioning also the emotional suffering not only for the individuals but also for their families (spouse, children) and the global impact on quality of life. Studies on quality of life of hospitalized patients with depression show that quality of life varies with disease progression, naturally, the concept of quality of life encompasses the patient's entire well-being, including a broad spectrum of physical, social, psychological, and spiritual factors.

On 9th October, 2008, WHO has launched its action programme in Geneva, the mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) which aims at scaling up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders for countries especially with low and middle income. The programme asserts that with proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication, tens of millions could be treated for depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, prevented from suicide and begin to lead normal lives, even where resources are scarce.

In this scenario, PSYCHE project will develop a personal, cost-effective, multi-parametric monitoring system with the aim to treat and predict depressive or manic episodes in patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder by combining wearable and portable devices, with appropriate platforms and services.