Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Mental Health
Date Submitted: Jan 26, 2021
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2021
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Preliminary outcomes of the Motivation and Skills Support (MASS) mobile app: An Ecological Momentary Intervention for social functioning in schizophrenia
ABSTRACT
Background:
People with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses often lack access to evidence-based interventions, particularly interventions that target meaningful recovery outcomes, such as social functioning and quality of life. Mobile technologies, including smartphone applications, have the potential to provide scalable supports that place elements of evidence-based interventions at the palm of patients’ hands.
Objective:
We developed a smartphone app to provide targeted social goal support (e.g., making new friends, improving existing relationships) for people with schizophrenia, called Motivation and Skills Support (MASS), in a standalone open trial.
Methods:
In this study we present preliminary outcomes in 31 participants who used the MASS app for a period of eight weeks, including social functioning pre- to post-intervention, and momentary reports of treatment targets (social motivation, appraisals) during the intervention.
Results:
Findings suggest the intervention improved self-reported social functioning from baseline to treatment termination, particularly in women participants. Gains were not maintained at three-month follow-up. Furthermore, increased social functioning was predicted by momentary reports of social appraisals, including perceived social competence and the extent to which social interactions were worth the effort.
Conclusions:
We discuss implications of these findings and future directions for addressing social functioning in schizophrenia using mobile technology. Clinical Trial: NCT03404219
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