AcceXible Speech-Based Screening for Depression and Anxiety in University Students (BUAP, Mexico)

Validation of the acceXible Screening and Monitoring System for Depression and Anxiety in the Student Population of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP)

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety are increasingly prevalent among university student populations, yet early detection remains reliant on psychometric instruments tied to diagnostic criteria (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD). Emerging evidence suggests that depression affects both the acoustic properties and content of speech, making speech analysis a promising candidate as a digital biomarker for early screening.

This study evaluates the validity of acceXible, a speech-based machine learning platform, for the detection and monitoring of depression and anxiety in the student population of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Mexico. AcceXible captures spontaneous speech through open-ended interview tasks and applies automated acoustic and linguistic analysis.

The primary objective is to evaluate the validity of the acceXible spontaneous speech analysis system for depression and anxiety screening, assessed against the PHQ and GAD scales as reference standards. Secondary objectives include examining associations between speech-derived variables and other study measures, evaluating participant engagement with digital mental health resources, assessing user satisfaction with the platform, and analyzing longitudinal changes in scores across follow-up assessments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provision of voluntary written informed consent
• Age 16-25 years
• Current enrollment at BUAP
• Spanish language proficiency
• Access to a mobile device with internet connectivity
• Ability to understand and follow basic acceXible usage instructions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal to participate
• Psychomotor agitation
• Sensory impairment (visual or auditory)
• Cognitive impairment