Development and Validation of a Cross-Device Platform for Anhedonia Trend Visualization by Using Ecological Momentary...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Digital Health
• Data Science

Background:

• Anhedonia is a key symptom of depressive disorders, but real-time individual monitoring is limited.
• Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) allows for high-frequency data collection.
• Simple Moving Averages (SMA) can smooth daily signals for early trend detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a cross-device platform for individual anhedonia monitoring using EMA-SHAPS.
• To assess the platform's feasibility, usability, data quality, and initial analytical validity.
• To inform a subsequent evaluation of the platform's clinical utility.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm methodological pilot study involving approximately 24 adults (clinical and nonclinical cohorts).
• Participants completed 30 days of daily EMA-SHAPS assessments.
• Primary outcomes included feasibility (adherence, missingness, timing) and usability (System Usability Scale, qualitative feedback).

Main Results:

• The protocol specifies design, recruitment, and data rules for computing moving averages.
• Recruitment for the feasibility pilot is scheduled for March 2026.
• Feasibility metrics, usability indices, and parameter estimates will refine alert logic for future evaluations.

Conclusions:

• Combining EMA-SHAPS with SMA trend visualizations may offer interpretable early-warning indicators for anhedonia.
• This pilot study will provide essential feasibility, usability, and analytical data.
• The findings will support a future controlled evaluation of the platform's clinical utility.