Life Goals self-management mobile application for bipolar disorder: consumer feasibility, usability, and acceptability (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Ryan ◽  
Shawna N. Smith ◽  
Anastasia K. Yocum ◽  
Isabel Carley ◽  
Celeste Liebrecht ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Life Goals is an evidence-based self-management intervention that assist individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) by aligning BD symptom coping strategies with their personal goals. It is available for in-person and telephone sessions, and has been recently developed as an individualized, customizable mobile application (app). OBJECTIVE We examined the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the Life Goals self-management app among individuals diagnosed with BD who used the app for up to six months. METHODS Twenty-eight participants with BD used the Life Goals app on their personal smartphone for six months. They completed key clinical outcome measurements of functioning, disability, and psychiatric symptoms at baseline, three-, and six-months and a post-study survey about usability and satisfaction. RESULTS Participants used the app a median of 25 times (interquartile range [IQR]: 13, 65.75), and for greater minutes during the first three months of the study. Depression and Anxiety modules were the most frequently used, accounting for 35% and 22% of usage respectively. Overall participants found the app useful (60%), easy to use (72%), and the screen displayed material adequately (88%), but under half found the app helpful in managing their health (40%) or in making progress on their wellness goals (36%). Clinical outcomes showed a trend for improvements in mental and physical health and mania-related well-being. CONCLUSIONS The Life Goals app showed feasibility of use among individuals with bipolar disorder. There was greater user engagement in the initial three months with user interests most frequently with the mood modules compared to other wellness modules. Participants showed acceptability with ease of use and satisfaction with user interface but showed less success in encouraging self-management in this small sample. The Life Goals app is a mHealth technology that can allow those with serious mental illness more flexible access to evidence-based treatments.

10.2196/32450 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Ryan ◽  
Shawna N. Smith ◽  
Anastasia K. Yocum ◽  
Isabel Carley ◽  
Celeste Liebrecht ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Tami Oliphant

Introduction: Mental health is a primary determinant of well-being, and as more people look online for mental health information, YouTube is an increasingly important information source. Although authoritative organizations such as the World Health Organization post videos to YouTube, when retrieved these videos are interspersed with personal, commercial, governmental, television or other media segments, and institutional videos. YouTube was searched for videos on mental health to measure user engagement with these videos. It was hypothesized that videos posted to YouTube that contained personal narratives would generate more user engagement in terms of more video view counts, likes, and number of comments. Methods: YouTube was searched for mental health information using three different search terms and phrases: “depression,” “bipolar disorder,” and “mental health.” The first 20 results for the terms depression and bipolar disorder were screen captured and for the search phrase mental health the first 40 videos were screen captured. All 80 videos were categorized according to video producer type and analyzed using YouTube metrics including number of “likes,” view counts, and comments to measure user engagement with the videos. Results: The majority of videos returned in the top results were posted by laypersons and the videos focus on the poster's personal experience (38%) followed by videos produced for television and other media (29%). Videos that contain personal narratives and experiential knowledge generate the most user engagement and are preferred sources for users searching for mental health information. Discussion: Users’ greater engagement with personal videos indicates that there is an important role for librarians and information professionals in assisting users in deciding what mental health information is accurate, authoritative, and reliable regardless of the authority of the video producer. In addition, the results of this research might inform best practices for professional organizations posting videos to YouTube.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S41-S41
Author(s):  
G. de Girolamo ◽  
V. Bulgari

Schizophrenia is frequently associated with abnormal physical activity (PA) per se (e.g., hypokinesia, motor retardation, etc.) or related to antipsychotic medications (e.g., extrapyramidal symptoms including bradykinesia, tremor, etc.). Daily amounts of PA for subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia tend to decrease over the illness course and contribute to metabolic and cognitive disturbances. PA intervention for schizophrenia patients may result in increased well-being, improved cognitive functioning, fewer negative symptoms and increased self-efficacy, leading to improved management of psychosocial life domains. However, PA trials conducted among people suffering from schizophrenia show several methodological limits: small sample sizes, lack of randomized patients’ allocation, heterogeneity of interventions and inappropriate outcome measures.Firth et al. (2015) have recently conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 trials on structured PA in schizophrenia (n = 659, median age of 33 years). The conclusions of this recent review are the following:– aerobic exercise (for instance exercise bike) of moderate-to-vigorous intensity done at least 90 minutes per week is effective in improving cardiovascular fitness; studies (n = 7) using VO2max as an assessment of fitness have reported clinically significant increases in VO2max, “defined as sufficient to reduce cardiovascular disease risk by 15% and mortality by 20%”;– several low-dose aerobic interventions did not shown any effect;– there was a “strong effect of exercise on total psychiatric symptoms” (both positive and negative symptoms were reduced);– total attrition rate was 32%. Group exercise showed a much lower attrition rate than solitary exercise;– caregivers’ supervision increased compliance as compared to unsupervised intervention;– in the only study that compared per-protocol and intention-to-treat analysis, a significant improvement in fitness, psychiatric symptoms and overall functioning only occurred in participants who attended > 50% of exercise sessions.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Morton ◽  
Kendall Ho ◽  
Steven J Barnes ◽  
Erin E Michalak

BACKGROUND Web-based resources can support people with bipolar disorder (BD) to improve their knowledge and self-management. However, publicly available resources are heterogeneous in terms of their quality and ease of use. Characterizing digital health literacy (the skillset that enable people to navigate and make use of health information in a web-based context) in BD will support the development of educational resources. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to develop understanding of digital health literacy and its predictors in people with BD. METHODS A web-based survey was used to explore self-reported digital health literacy (as measured by the e-Health Literacy Scale [eHEALS]) in people with BD. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate potential predictors, including demographic/clinical characteristics and technology use. RESULTS A total of 919 respondents (77.9% female; mean age 36.9 years) completed the survey. Older age (β=0.09; <i>P</i>=.01), postgraduate education (β=0.11; <i>P</i>=.01), and current use of self-management apps related to BD (β=0.13; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) were associated with higher eHEALS ratings. CONCLUSIONS Levels of self-reported digital health literacy were comparable or higher than other studies in the general population and specific physical/mental health conditions. However, individuals with BD who are younger, have completed less education, or are less familiar with mental health apps may require extra support to safely and productively navigate web-based health resources. Relevant educational initiatives are discussed. Future studies should evaluate skill development interventions for less digitally literate groups.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geneva K Jonathan ◽  
Cynthia A Dopke ◽  
Alyssa McBride ◽  
Pamela Babington ◽  
Tania Michaels ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that results in significant morbidity and mortality. A combination of medications and psychotherapy improves outcomes, but accessibility of treatment is limited. Smartphones and other technologies have the potential to increase access to evidence-based strategies that enhance self-management while simultaneously providing real-time user feedback and provider alerts to augment care. OBJECTIVE This study obtained user input to guide the development of LiveWell: a smartphone based self-management intervention for bipolar disorder. METHODS Individuals with bipolar disorder participated in an initial field trial focused on developing a self-report data collection platform followed by design sessions, usability testing, and a second field trial with the goal of developing a bipolar disorder smartphone self-management intervention. Participant feedback was obtained formally via structured interviews and questionnaires as well as informally during the second field trial coaching sessions. Iterative revisions to the application design were made based on participant feedback throughout all phases of development. A qualitative analysis of participants’ personalized anchors for mood, thought, and wellness ratings was utilized to better understand the signs and symptoms that participants identified as important for wellness self-monitoring. Thematic analysis of the second field trial’s exit interviews was used to better understand participants’ experience of the intervention and its delivery. RESULTS Our research team sought participant input to aid in the design and development of a smartphone-based self-management intervention for bipolar disorder. This process led to design revisions and provided insights into what participants valued. In discussing behavior change processes, participants emphasized the importance of managing early warning signs and symptoms and the central role of monitoring and social support in this management. Participants reported that personalizing their wellness rating scale descriptions and their plans for staying well was useful. Interestingly, when participants anchored a wellness rating scale rather than separate mood and thought scales, most anchors were categorized as behaviors. This suggests that a less directed approach may better capture participants’ experiences and needs. While participants found the current level of application personalization beneficial, they also requested more psychoeducational information and personalization. These requests lead to design tensions between individual participant preferences and the delivery of a generally useful evidence-based, self-management intervention for bipolar disorder. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring, evaluation and adjustment as well as the development of insight as key volitional and motivational factors that encourage behavior change. Participants also indicated that social support from the coach as well as involvement and engagement of family, friends and providers was important in terms of seeking and receiving assistance with behavior maintenance. Finally, personalization of digital mental health self-report tools such as scales, questionnaires and plans may enhance self-reflection practices as well as connection with core intervention content.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi114-vi114
Author(s):  
Orieta Celiku ◽  
Kristin Odom ◽  
Mahendar Ramidi ◽  
Terri Armstrong

Abstract INTRODUCTION Managing symptom burden is an integral part of brain tumor patient care, but tools to facilitate tracking symptoms and self-management for this population are lacking. Reporting is often limited to self-report as part of clinical follow-up care, or episodic between visits if symptoms are severe. While general-purpose and cancer-specific mobile applications that track medical symptoms are becoming more prevalent, they may not cover the entire range of symptoms experienced by patients with brain tumors or allow tracking of self-management strategies. METHODS We developed an iOS operating system mobile application using Apple’s UIKit, Foundation, WebKit, and Core Graphics frameworks. Core Data and iCloud were used to implement local and cloud-based data storage for personal use. Findings from our Outcomes Surveys informed selection of core symptoms to track. A multidisciplinary team of neuro-oncology scientists, providers, and communication specialists developed self-care content from evidence-based sources. RESULTS We developed My STORI, a free mobile application to capture the experiences of brain tumor patients. Patients and their family members can track daily symptoms and their impact on function and record any actions that were taken to mitigate them. Evidence-based self-care information on how to recognize, manage, and report symptoms is provided. Graphical summaries of how these symptoms evolve over time, and how they are impacted by clinical appointments, treatment, and self-care activities can be displayed and compiled into reports that can be shared with their care team, family, or health care record. CONCLUSIONS Mobile applications have the potential to promote self-care, facilitate symptom management, and enable intuitive, frequent, and convenient reporting of clinically relevant data to the health-care team. The My STORI application is an innovation in patient care guided by evidence-based research and can be used to track symptom management, promote self-care, and enhance communication to improve clinical care and research.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 278-278
Author(s):  
I.A. Dogar ◽  
M.W. Azeem ◽  
I. Haider ◽  
M. Wudarsky ◽  
A. Asmat ◽  
...  

IntroductionStudies have shown an association between parental distress and caretaking of children with cognitive delays. There is little data in developing countries, such as Pakistan, concerning the impact of raising children with Mental Retardation, upon the quality of parent functioning and risk for psychopathology.ObjectiveTo assess the level of distress and risk for psychopathology among parents of children with Mental Retardation (MR).MethodsThis was prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Participants were 200 parents (100 fathers/100 mothers) of 100 children with the diagnosis of MR. Parents were administered Self Report Questionnaire 20 (SRQ 20) and the Quality of Life BREF (QOL BREF).ResultsMean age for mothers was 40.2 years while fathers was 42.9 years. The mean age of children was 10.5 years (30% females/70% males) with 25% mild MR, 42% moderate MR, 20% severe MR and 13% profound MR. On SRQ 20, 25% mothers and 43% fathers scored above the cut off indicating possible psychiatric disorder. Mean QOL domain scores were for mothers (M) and fathers (F): M 13.2/ F 13.9 for physical health; M13.1 / F 13.7 for psychological health; M 13.9 / F 13.9 for social relationships, M 13.4 / F 14.8 for environment.ConclusionsParents of children with MR are at higher risk for psychopathology, needing mental health assessment.Fathers scores on the SRQ reflect more distress and psychiatric symptoms than mothers SRQ scores.Limitations include lack of comparison group and small sample size.


Author(s):  
Xilin Li ◽  
Yao Zhang ◽  
Ziwen Ye ◽  
Lingling Huang ◽  
Xujuan Zheng

Primiparous women usually experience various parenting problems after childbirth that have negative effects on the well-being of mothers and infants. Although e-Support technology could provide an innovative and easily accessible intervention approach, mobile-phone interventions remain limited for Chinese primiparous women. Therefore, a new mobile application (APP) called the “Internet-based Support Program” (“ISP”) was designed, incorporating the self-efficacy theory and the social-exchange theory for Chinese first-time mothers to improve their levels of maternal self-efficacy (MSE), social support, and satisfaction, as well as to reduce their postpartum depression symptoms. The research was conducted to develop and optimize the “ISP” APP for new mothers via a theory-, evidence-, and person-based approach. Five modules of “learning forum”, “communication forum”, “ask-the-expert forum”, “baby home forum”, and “reminder forum” were included in the APP to meet various parenting needs of first-time mothers; and its contents and functions were validated by the experts and primiparous women. The majority of participants gave positive feedback on the APP’s perceived ease of use and usefulness. The “ISP” APP was the first designed for Chinese primiparous women, and a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to measure its effectiveness on parenting outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Fletcher ◽  
Fiona Foley ◽  
Greg Murray

BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex, relapsing mood disorder characterized by considerable morbidity and mortality. Web-based self-management interventions provide marked opportunities for several chronic mental health conditions. However, Web-based self-management programs targeting BD are underrepresented compared with programs targeting other psychiatric conditions. OBJECTIVE This paper aims at facilitating future research in the area of self-management of BD and draws insights from the development of one such intervention—the Online, Recovery-Oriented Bipolar Individualised Tool (ORBIT)—that is aimed at improving the quality of life of people with BD. METHODS We have discussed the opportunities and challenges in developing an engaging, evidence-based, safe intervention within the context of the following three nested domains: (1) intervention development; (2) scientific testing of the intervention; and (3) ethical framework including risk management. RESULTS We gained the following insights across the three abovementioned overlapping domains: Web-based interventions can be optimized through (1) codesign with consumers with lived experience to ensure relevance and appropriateness to the target audience; (2) novel content development processes that iteratively combine evidence-based information with lived experience perspectives, capitalizing on multimedia (eg, videos) that the digital health space provides; and (3) incorporating Web-based communities to connect end users and promote constructive engagement by access to a Web-based coach. CONCLUSIONS Self-management is effective in BD, even for those on the more severe end of the spectrum. While there are challenges to be aware of, guided self-management programs, such as those offered by the ORBIT project, which are specifically developed for Web-based delivery provide highly accessible, engaging, and potentially provocative treatments for chronically ill populations who may otherwise have never engaged with treatment. Key questions about engagement, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness will be answered by the ORBIT project over the next 18 months.


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