Depression and schizophrenia could be spotted using your Facebook posts and likes, study suggests

It's far easier to spot on Facebook than in real life

What you post and ‘like’ on Facebook could reveal whether you’re showing the early signs of depression and schizophrenia, experts say.

Researchers from Cambridge and Stanford universities believe that studying how people behave on the social network could be more effective than studying their real-life behaviour.

That’s because people – especially teenagers – share way more emotional indicators than they would do offline.

Writing in Lancet Psychiatry, lead researcher Dr Becky Inkster said: “Facebook is hugely popular and could provide us with a wealth of data to improve our knowledge of mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.

“It’s reach is particularly broad, too, stretching across the digital divide to traditionally hard-to-reach groups including homeless youth, immigrants, people with mental health problems, and seniors.”

Researchers believe that subtle cues in the photos liked and posted by someone on Facebook could help to predict their offline behaviour.

People are more likely to open up and reveal their true self on Facebook (Getty Images) (Getty)

Co-author Dr Michal Kosinski said information posted on Facebook is more easily analysed than data from real-life settings.

Previous studies have revealed just how powerful an effect social media can have on us.

Being unfriended can leave people with negative emotions, while the make-up of their news feed can also affect mood.

The initial signs of depression or schizophrenia could be spotted on social media (Getty Images) (Getty)

Not only could Facebook be used to spot mental health problems, but it could also be used to treat them.

Dr Inkster said: “Facebook relationships may help those with reduced self-esteem and provide companionship for individuals who are socially isolated. “We know that socially isolated adolescents are more likely to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts, so these online stepping stones could encourage patients to reform offline social connections.”