Abstract
BackgroundBroadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to providing effective long-term treatments. Research indicates that patients with mental illness are willing to engage in the use of telemonitoring and mobile technology to assess and monitor their mood states. However, without the provision of distant support, adverse outcomes and events may be difficult to prevent and manage through self-monitoring. Understanding patient perspectives is important to achieving the best balance of self-monitoring, patient empowerment, and distant supporter involvement.MethodsThis systematic review synthesises quantitative and qualitative evidence of the effectiveness and feasibility of daily/weekly/monthly remote mood monitoring that includes distant support in participants with mood disorders. Inclusion criteria comprised mood monitoring of mood disorder patients as main intervention, study design, method of monitoring, and presence of psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Effectiveness was defined by the change in depression and/or mania scores. Feasibility was determined on participant feedback and completion/attrition rates. Studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018.ResultsNine studies of acceptable quality met the inclusion criteria. Distant mood monitoring was effective in improving depression scores but not mania scores. Feasibility, as measured through compliance and completion rates and participant feedback, varied.ConclusionDistant mood monitoring with support may be a useful, acceptable, and feasible intervention for diverse groups of patients in terms of age and ethnicity. Further, it may be effective in improving symptoms of depression, increasing treatment adherence, and facilitating the prevention and management of adverse outcomes. As a task-shifting intervention, distant mood monitoring may help to alleviate the burden on mental health providers in developing countries.
Highlights
Broadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to providing effective long-term treatments
We synthesised quantitative and qualitative evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of daily/weekly/monthly remote mood monitoring in participants with any mood disorder by clinicians, lay counsellors, and researchers, or where regular feedback was provided by distant supporters in cases where mood states were selfassessed
This systematic review focused on the effectiveness and feasibility of daily/weekly/monthly remote mood monitoring in participants with any mood disorder by distant supporters or where regular feedback was provided by distant supporters in cases where mood states were selfassessed
Summary
Broadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to providing effective long-term treatments. Broadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to understanding bipolar and unipolar depression, and other affective disorders (hereafter referred to as mood disorders) and providing long-term effective treatments This includes patterns of Research indicates that patients with psychiatric disorders readily engage in the use of telemonitoring [6] and mobile technology [7, 8] as forms of mood assessment, monitoring, and treatment; allowing for more regular van der Watt et al BMC Psychiatry (2020) 20:383 data collection on mood trajectories. A systematic review of the validity of electronic self-monitoring of mood using information technology (IT) platforms in adults with bipolar disorder found evidence of their validity when compared to clinical rating scales for depression [9] Both weekly telemonitoring and text messaging allow for improved access to professional care in patients with bipolar disorder [6, 10, 11] and may facilitate symptom improvement. These interventions may assist in increasing treatment adherence which is of benefit as non-adherence is a major and costly concern in the treatment of mood disorders [11]
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