Smartphone ownership and use of mental health applications by psychiatric inpatients

Little is known about the use of mental health smartphone applications during the greatest period of vulnerability - immediately following discharge from a psychiatric inpatient unit. Currently, no data are available regarding smartphone ownership or technology literacy of individuals who receive inpatient psychiatric treatment. The goal of this study was to determine psychiatric inpatients' smartphone ownership, current uses of, and interest in utilizing apps to aid in mental health treatment after discharge. A single time point self-report survey was given to patients prior to discharge from a psychiatric inpatient unit at a major academic hospital in a metropolitan area of the United States. Of the 101 survey respondents, 82.8% indicated that they own a smartphone, and over 70% indicated that they use smartphone apps, can access the internet from their phones, and use social media. While only 25.3% reported that they currently use a mental health app, a majority of respondents (53.2%) expressed interest in using such apps in the future, and almost 60% would use those apps to track their mental health. Our data suggest that there is significant untapped potential for utilizing smartphone applications for psychiatric monitoring and treatment following discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit.