Abstract
BackgroundThere is considerable scientific interest in finding new and innovative ways to capture rapid fluctuations in functioning within individuals with bipolar disorder (BD), a severe, recurrent mental disorder associated with frequent shifts in symptoms and functioning. The use of smartphones can provide valid and real-world tools for use in measurement-based care and could be used to inform more personalized treatment options for this group, which can improve standard of care.ObjectiveWe examined the feasibility and usability of a smartphone to capture daily fluctuations in mood within BD and to relate daily self-rated mood to smartphone use behaviors indicative of psychomotor activity or symptoms of the illness.MethodsParticipants were 26 individuals with BD and 12 healthy control individuals who were recruited from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of BD. All were given a smartphone with a custom-built app and prompted twice a day to complete questions of mood for 28 days. The app automatically and unobtrusively collected phone usage data. A poststudy satisfaction survey was also completed.ResultsOur sample showed a very high adherence rate to the daily momentary assessments (91% of the 58 prompts completed). Multivariate mixed effect models showed that an increase in rapid thoughts over time was associated with a decrease in outgoing text messages (β=–.02; P=.04), and an increase in impulsivity self-ratings was related to a decrease in total call duration (β=–.29; P=.02). Participants generally reported positive experiences using the smartphone and completing daily prompts.ConclusionsUse of mobile technology shows promise as a way to collect important clinical information that can be used to inform treatment decision making and monitor outcomes in a manner that is not overly burdensome to the patient or providers, highlighting its potential use in measurement-based care.
Highlights
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe, recurrent mental disorder that often has devastating effects on patient’s everyday functioning
There were no significant differences between the bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy control (HC) participants in age (t36=–0.44; P=.66), education (t36=0.47; P=.64), or IQ (t36=–0.04; P=.97)
Total duration of calls was found to negatively associated with impulsivity ratings over time. These results indicate that individuals who experience chronic and fluctuating changes in their mood are open to and respond adequately to twice-daily surveys about their mood using devices that they use on a regular basis, suggesting that this type of assessment could be acceptable to patients in practice
Summary
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe, recurrent mental disorder that often has devastating effects on patient’s everyday functioning. BD is characterized by intermittent episodes of depression and mania or hypomania, and it affects at least 2% of the general population, yet it is the sixth leading cause of disability worldwide in individuals aged 18 to 44 years [1] and the most costly mental health condition [2] Taken together, this frequently shifting illness leads to substantial comorbidity, health care costs, and premature mortality [3,4]. Many patients with BD experience significant daily and weekly mood swings that are below the threshold for a full mood episode It is typically this mood instability that can contribute to impairments in daily functioning [5]. Conclusions: Use of mobile technology shows promise as a way to collect important clinical information that can be used to inform treatment decision making and monitor outcomes in a manner that is not overly burdensome to the patient or providers, highlighting its potential use in measurement-based care
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
