KIOS: A smartphone app for self-monitoring for patients with bipolar disorder

This study examined the use of a self-monitoring/self-management smartphone application (app) for patients with bipolar disorder. The app was specifically designed with patient-centered computational software system based on concepts from nonlinear systems (chaos) theory.

This was a randomized, active comparator study of use of the KIOS app compared to an existing free app that has high utilization rates known as eMoods, over 52 weeks, and performed in three academic centers. Patients were evaluated monthly utilizing the Bipolar Inventory of Symptoms Schedule (BISS). The primary outcome measure was the persistence of using the app over the year of the study.

Patients assigned to KIOS persisted in the study longer than those assigned to eMoods; 57 patients (87.70%) in the KIOS group versus 42 (73.69%) in the eMoods group completed the study (p = 0.03). By 52 weeks, significantly more of KIOS group (84.4%) versus eMoods group (54%) entered data into their programs (χ²  = 14.2, df = 1, p = 0.0002). Patient satisfaction for KIOS was greater (F = 5.21, df = 1, 108, p = 0.025) with a standardized effect size (Cohen's d) of 0.41. There was no difference in clinical outcome at the end of the study between the two groups.

This is the first randomized comparison study comparing two apps for the self-monitoring/self-management of bipolar disorder. The study revealed greater patient satisfaction and greater adherence to a patient-centered software program (KIOS) than a monitoring program that does not provide feedback (eMoods).