OCTOBER 4, 2024
Nicholas B. Allen PhD
Ann Swindells Professor of Clinical Psychology
Director – Center for Digital Mental Health
Department of Psychology
University of Oregon
About the Presentation: This presentation will explore the innovative use of mobile sensing technology in clinical assessment and treatment, with a particular focus on addressing youth suicide and depression. I will highlight the potential of digital devices to deliver just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) for mental health care, emphasizing the importance of real-time and short-term prediction studies for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The presentation discusses the challenges associated with engaging users in digital mental health apps and underscores the necessity of measurement-based care, stratified care, and value-based care to mitigate the demand/supply imbalances in mental health services. The key takeaway is that leveraging mobile sensing technology can significantly enhance mental health care delivery, especially for at-risk youth, by enabling timely and personalized interventions.
About the Presenter: Nick Allen has more than thirty years of experience in clinical psychology practice, research, and education. His research aims to understand the interactions between multiple risk factors for adolescent onset mental health disorders, and to use these insights to develop innovative approaches to prevention and early intervention. His group holds multiple National Institutes of Health and industry-funded grants for work focusing on the use of mobile and wearable technology to monitor risk for poor mental health outcomes including suicide, depression, and bipolar disorder. His team has developed software tools that combine active and passive sensing methods to provide intensive longitudinal assessment of behavior with minimal participant burden. The ultimate aim of these technologies is to develop a new generation of “just-in-time” behavioral interventions for early intervention and prevention of mental health problems. Nick is also the co-founder and CEO of Ksana Health Inc, a company whose mission is to use research evidence and modern technology to revolutionize the delivery of mental health care through remote behavioral monitoring and adaptive, continuous behavior change support.