The optimisation of experience sampling protocols in people with schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Experience sampling methodology (ESM) is increasingly used to assess schizophrenia symptoms and behaviors in daily life.
• Despite advantages over traditional interviews, its external validity in this population requires further investigation.
• Factors influencing ESM protocol adherence in schizophrenia are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine if factors like mood, medication, and symptoms differentially affect ESM implementation in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls.
• To assess the impact of these factors on the validity of ESM data.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-three individuals with schizophrenia and 58 healthy controls completed daily ESM questionnaires for six days.
• Data collected included questionnaire completion rates, acceptability, and perceived disruption.
• Statistical analyses examined the influence of demographic, clinical, and experiential factors on adherence.

Main Results:

• Overall questionnaire completion rates were comparable between people with schizophrenia (over 70%) and controls.
• Individuals with schizophrenia completed fewer questionnaires in the morning but showed no fatigue effects.
• Higher perceived disruption was associated with reduced adherence in the schizophrenia group, while medication and symptoms did not significantly impact adherence.

Conclusions:

• ESM is a valid methodology for use with people experiencing schizophrenia.
• Minimizing disruption during ESM assessments may enhance adherence and external validity in this population.
• Further research should focus on optimizing ESM protocols to maximize engagement and data quality.