Mobile cognitive remote assessment of schizophrenia: a global multi-site pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Digital Health

Background:

• Assessing cognition in schizophrenia is challenging in clinical settings due to time constraints of traditional tests.
• Digital remote assessments via smartphones offer a feasible alternative, reducing patient and staff burden.
• Smartphone data, including sleep patterns, can provide nuanced cognitive profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the validity of the mindLAMP app's digital cognitive assessments as proxies for traditional in-person assessments.
• To evaluate the global multi-site pilot study of the mindLAMP app in schizophrenia patients.
• To investigate the correlation between digital cognitive metrics and the MATRICS Consensus Battery (MCCB).

Main Methods:

• A global multi-site pilot study involving 56 participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder across the U.S. and India.
• Participants used the mindLAMP app for 30 days, completing daily cognitive tasks and surveys.
• Digital assessments were scored using metrics like Rate-Correct Score (RCS) and compared with baseline MCCB scores.

Main Results:

• The Rate-Correct Score (RCS) showed consistent correlation with baseline MCCB domains, adjusted for covariates.
• Moderate test-retest reliability was found for specific digital assessments (e.g., mobile Trails-Making Test A).
• Exploratory analyses investigated the mediating role of sleep data in cognitive performance.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone-based cognitive assessments using the mindLAMP app show initial accessibility, validity, and reliability in schizophrenia.
• Digital tools offer a promising avenue for more efficient and nuanced cognitive evaluation in psychiatric populations.
• Further research with larger samples and diverse populations is warranted to expand the utility of these digital assessments.