A Smartphone-Based Self-Management Intervention for Individuals with Bipolar Disorder (LiveWell): Qualitative Study...

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health
• Psychiatry
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Bipolar disorder requires ongoing management beyond medication.
• Psychotherapy improves outcomes but faces access limitations.
• Smartphone interventions offer a scalable solution to enhance bipolar disorder self-management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how individuals with bipolar disorder perceive and utilize a smartphone intervention for health behavior change and maintenance.
• To understand the integration of digital tools into daily life for managing bipolar disorder.
• To identify key factors influencing the effectiveness of smartphone-based interventions.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study of the LiveWell smartphone intervention with individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
• In-depth qualitative exit interviews conducted post-intervention.
• Deductive and inductive coding of interview data using a behavior change framework.

Main Results:

• Participants prioritized managing mood symptoms, maintaining routines, sleep, and medication adherence.
• Social support from coaches, family, friends, and providers was crucial for managing targets.
• Self-monitoring was key for awareness and reflection, though some found intervention content too basic.

Conclusions:

• A person-based design approach is vital for understanding user experience with mental health technologies.
• Intervention perceptions aligned with core features like monitoring, suggesting effectiveness.
• Future development should focus on enhancing social support features and tailoring content complexity.