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Smartphone data as objective measures of bipolar disorder symptoms
Maria Faurholt-Jepsen1, Mads Frost2, Maj Vinberg1
1The Clinic for Affective Disorder, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Psychiatry Research
|April 1, 2014
Summary
Smartphone self-monitoring software MONARCA helped 17 bipolar disorder patients track symptoms for 3 months. Objective smartphone data like activity levels correlated with depression scores, validating self-monitoring for bipolar disorder management.
Area of Science:
- Digital psychiatry and mental health technology.
- Clinical psychology and behavioral science.
- Bipolar disorder research and treatment.
Background:
- Bipolar disorder requires continuous symptom monitoring for effective management.
- Traditional assessment methods can be infrequent and subjective.
- Mobile health (mHealth) offers potential for objective, real-time data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and utility of the MONARCA smartphone software for bipolar disorder self-monitoring.
- To investigate correlations between objective smartphone-derived measures and clinical symptom ratings.
- To assess the relationship between self-reported symptoms and clinician-rated scales.
Main Methods:
- 17 bipolar disorder patients used the MONARCA smartphone application for daily electronic self-monitoring over 3 months.
- Patients were assessed bi-weekly using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) with blinded access to smartphone data.
- Objective smartphone data, including physical and social activity metrics, were collected.
Main Results:
- Objective smartphone measures, such as physical and social activity, showed significant correlations with clinically rated depressive symptoms.
- Self-monitored depressive symptoms demonstrated a significant correlation with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 items (HDRS-17) score.
- The MONARCA software provided a feasible method for collecting relevant patient data.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone-based self-monitoring, exemplified by the MONARCA software, shows promise in capturing objective data relevant to bipolar disorder symptomology.
- Objective smartphone data can correlate with clinical assessments, suggesting potential for integration into routine care.
- Self-monitoring via smartphone applications may enhance the understanding and management of bipolar disorder.
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