Mobile interventions for severe mental illness: design and preliminary data from three approaches

Area of Science:

• Digital health
• Psychiatry
• Mental health technology

Background:

• Mobile devices offer potential for delivering psychosocial interventions.
• Limited application exists for severe mental illness (SMI).
• This study explores mobile interventions for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the rationale, design, and preliminary data of three mobile intervention clinical trials.
• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of mobile interventions in SMI populations.
• To identify operational and technical challenges in implementing mobile health interventions.

Main Methods:

• Project 1: Personal digital assistant for self-management prompts.
• Project 2: Experience sampling via text messages for case management.
• Project 3: Mobile phone contact for skills training in schizophrenia.

Main Results:

• Minimal participant attrition and no device damage reported.
• Operational and technical barriers were identified.
• Adherence rates were comparable to nonpsychiatric populations.
• High participant satisfaction was observed.

Conclusions:

• Mobile devices are feasible and acceptable for augmenting psychosocial interventions in SMI.
• Further research is needed on efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and safety protocols.
• Digital mental health interventions show potential for serious mental illness treatment.