JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Rhythms, from the company Health Rhythms, is a smartphone platform that uses passively acquired smartphone data and artificial intelligence/predictive analytics to alert patients and providers to an emerging mental health crisis.

Objective:

Our group embedded Rhythms into the electronic health record (EHR) of a large health system, set appropriate alerts based upon passively collected data and patient self-ratings, and tested feasibility and acceptability of Rhythms among patients attending an academic psychiatric outpatient clinic.

Methods:

Patients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder or other mood disorder were contacted online and enrolled for a 6-week trial of Rhythms. Emergent and urgent alerts were monitored and managed.

Results:

Of the 104 participants, 89 (85.6%) completed six weeks of monitoring. Participants were majority female identifying (72 persons; 69.2%), White (84 persons; 80.8%), non-Hispanic (100 persons; 96.2%) and with diagnosis of MDD (71 persons; 68.3%). Two emergent alerts and 19 urgent alerts were received and managed according to protocol over 16 weeks. Two-thirds of those participating continued to use Rhythms after study completion. Comments from participants indicated appreciation for greater self-awareness and provider connection, while providers reported that Rhythms provided a more nuanced understanding of patient experience between clinical visits.

Conclusions:

Rhythms is a user-friendly, EHR adaptable smartphone-based tool that provides patients and providers with a greater understanding of patient mental health status.