JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

For many people who use mobile apps, the primary motivations are entertainment, news, gaming, social connections, or productivity. For those experiencing health problems, particularly those with chronic conditions such as psychiatric disorders, the stakes are much higher. The digital tools that they select may mean the difference between improvement and decompensation, or even life and death. Although there has been a wide expansion of mental health apps with promise as well as hype, the current means of researching, evaluating, and deploying effective tools have been problematic. As a means of gaining a perspective that moves beyond usability testing, surveys, and app ratings, this patient perspective piece is meant to be a hybrid analysis of our current standing. First, we question the “killer app” and condition-specific mentality of current mental health app development by briefly reviewing challenges for patients and clinicians. More importantly, we offer the perspective of a software engineer who has struggled with bipolar disorder for many years. Many empirical findings are echoed by her experience with technology in mental health treatment.