Chiauzzi E, Newell A. (2019). Mental health apps in Psychiatric Treatment: A Patient Perspective on Real World Technology Usage. Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health. 6(4): e12292. doi:10.2196/12292
Researchers at PatientsLikeMe, a patient social network and research platform, conducted a case study with Individual X, a 43-year-old woman with treatment-resistant rapid-cycling type 2 bipolar disorder, whose lived experience and technological expertise from a career as a software engineer offer unique insight into the use of mHealth in psychiatric treatment. Killer apps (single, condition-specific apps marketed as a panacea to a target audience) have failed to motivate significant engagement or adherence. In two separate studies, individuals only used mood apps as intended for about 2 weeks and only about 1% of 1000 depression apps demonstrated both clinical relevance and clinical effectiveness. Individual X favors flexible, personalized use of non-condition-specific apps to manage 5 objectives: mindfulness, help with daily life, informed choices about medications, distress tolerance, and physical activity. Individual X uses Headspace, a meditation-focused app (mindfulness), Productive, a productivity app, Uber, budgeting, laundry, and food delivery apps (help with daily life), Stahl’s Psychopharmacology, a medication information app-book, and Daylio, a mood charting app to track symptoms (informed choices about medications), Signal, an app to send clinicians encrypted messages (distress tolerance), and yoga apps and apps that book exercise classes (physical activity). Individual X emphasizes that Internet privacy and security are breachable and advises patients weigh the benefits of a particular technology against its potential risks. The intuitive, tailored use of mHealth apps that Individual X advocates may better address the wide spectrum of behavioral challenges individuals with bipolar and other mental health conditions confront and suggests directions for patient-centered app development and research.