Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Monitoring the course of mental disorders in patients receiving ambulatory care may help improve their outcome and reduce complications. For this purpose, smartphone based digital monitoring has been suggested as an effective approach. However, few data exist regarding its feasibility in real-world. In this naturalistic study, we investigated the feasibility of digital monitoring in patients receiving routine ambulatory care and its clinical determinants.
METHODS
The clinical characteristics of patients were collected from the electronic clinical records. They included age, gender, diagnosis according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th criteria, and the measurement of severity according to the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale. Engagement with digital monitoring at baseline was assessed by measuring the installation rate of the eB2 MindCare application on smartphones. The retention time in the digital monitoring (i.e., time until uninstallation and duration of use) was assessed over a 90-day follow-up period.
RESULTS
Among the 212 patients involved in the ambulatory routine clinical follow-up, 148 installed the eB2 MindCare application on their smartphone. Most patients (82.5 %) were retained in the digital monitoring over the 90 days follow-up period. The engagement in the digital monitoring at baseline did not depend upon the clinical characteristics of patients (including age, gender, diagnosis or severity). The overall retention in the digital monitoring was not affected by those clinical characteristics. A diagnosis of impulsive disorder was associated with earlier interruption of the digital monitoring only during the first 90-day period.
CONCLUSION
Clinical characteristics do not influence engagement in digital monitoring or overall retention. Meanwhile, the diagnosis of impulsive disorders is related with earlier interruption of digital monitoring over the first 3 months. Hence, digital monitoring should be adapted for patients with impulsive disorders to increase their participation and improve their outcome.
