JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Bipolar disorder is a chronic, progressive illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. Self-report scales have historically played a significant role in the monitoring of bipolar symptoms. However, these tools are reliant on episodic memory, which can be unreliable, and do not allow the clinician to monitor brief episodic symptoms or the course of symptoms over shorter periods of time. Mobile app-based questionnaires have been suggested as a tool to improve monitoring of patients with bipolar disorder.

Objective:

To determine the feasibility and validity of mobile app-based self-report questionnaires.

Methods:

Pubmed, Ovid Medline and Embase databases were searched for papers published in English assessing adherence to and the validity of mobile app-based self-report questionnaires. Relevant studies were identified and results examining the validity and rates of adherence using app-based self-report questions are reported.

Results:

Thirteen records were identified for inclusion in this review. Four studies assessed the concurrent validity of mobile application-based self-report tools, with the majority of findings indicating significant associations between data collected using these tools and the YMRS, HDRS and/or MADRS. Three studies comparing the variability or range of symptoms between patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls suggest that these data are capable of differentiating between known groups. Two studies demonstrated statistically significant associations between data collected via mobile application-based self-report tools and instruments assessing other clinically important factors. Adherence rates varied across the studies examined, however good adherence rates were observed in studies using daily assessment of symptoms via mobile application.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that mobile application-based self-report tools are valid in the assessment of symptoms of mania and depression in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Data collected using these tools appears to differ between patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls and are significantly associated with other clinically important measures. It is unclear at this time whether these tools can be used to detect acute episodes of mania or depression in patients with bipolar disorder. Adherence data indicate that patients with bipolar disorder show good adherence to self-report assessments administered daily for the duration of the study periods evaluated.