OpenSIMPLe: A real-world implementation feasibility study of a smartphone-based psychoeducation programme for bipolar disorder

Background: Few evidence-based mental health apps are widely available to patients and, conversely, many of the available apps have not been appropriately evaluated. Given that the ultimate goal is to scale-up and open internet-based platforms (IBP), it is crucial to appropriately evaluate their real-world feasibility beforehand. We aimed to evaluate the implementation feasibility of a smartphone-based psychoeducational programme for bipolar disorder, exploring its long-term retention, usability, perceived helpfulness and satisfaction, alongside its impact on secondary health outcomes. Methods: Participants were recruited via the project website after completing an online screening questionnaire. They were requested to complete web-based questionnaires before using the app and after 6 months of use which included sociodemographic, illness and treatment variables, the world health organisation-five well-being index (WHO-5) and the short form health survey (SF-36). The follow-up questionnaires also contained satisfaction and usefulness questions. Results: 201 participants took part in the study. According to their retention, 66.2% of the participants were classified as noncompleters and 33.8% as completers. The only predictor significantly associated with higher odds of retention was older age (OR = 1.021, p < 0.001). 62% of the users reported they were satisfied with the programme with a higher percentage among completers. Who-5 baseline and follow-up scores showed a significant improvement as well as 6 out of 8 domains of the SF-36. Limitations: Screening and outcome measures were administered using exclusively self-reported online methods. Conclusion: The 6-month attrition rate of the programme was high. Positive outcomes regarding satisfaction were found predominantly among completers. The optimal dosage and retention of IBP mental health programmes remain challenging issues that need further research

Self-monitoring and psychoeducation in bipolar patients with a smart-phone application (SIMPLe) project: design, development and studies protocols

Background: New technologies have recently been used for monitoring signs and symptoms of mental health illnesses and particularly have been tested to improve the outcomes in bipolar disorders. Web-based psychoeducational programs for bipolar disorders have also been implemented, yet to our knowledge, none of them have integrated both approaches in one single intervention. The aim of this project is to develop and validate a smartphone application to monitor symptoms and signs and empower the self-management of bipolar disorder, offering customized embedded psychoeducation contents, in order to identify early symptoms and prevent relapses and hospitalizations. Methods/design: The project will be carried out in three complementary phases, which will include a feasibility study (first phase), a qualitative study (second phase) and a randomized controlled trial (third phase) comparing the smartphone application (SIMPLe) on top of treatment as usual with treatment as usual alone. During the first phase, feasibility and satisfaction will be assessed with the application usage log data and with an electronic survey. Focus groups will be conducted and technical improvements will be incorporated at the second phase. Finally, at the third phase, survival analysis with multivariate data analysis will be performed and relationships between socio-demographic, clinical variables and assessments scores with relapses in each group will be explored. Discussion: This project could result in a highly available, user-friendly and not costly monitoring and psychoeducational intervention that could improve the outcome of people suffering from bipolar disorders in a practical and secure way. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov: NCT02258711 (October 2014). Keywords: Bipolar disorder, Psychoeducation, Monitoring, Smartphones, Self-managemen

Validación de los Conjuntos Básicos de la CIF para la esquizofrenia – Guía para la realización de Grupos Focales

Videos que es posen a disposició per als investigadors colaboradors internacionals per la validació dels conjunts bàsics ICF per l’esquizophrenia.Veu en off: Laura Maldonado / Montatge i so: Laura MaldonadoEste video es una guía para ayudar a cualquier investigador a realizar grupos focales. Este video contiene dos partes. En la primera parte, se aborda el objetivo del video y algunas consideraciones generales para realizar grupos focales. En la segunda parte del video se explica en detalle el trabajo preparatorio, el procedimiento y cómo transcribir el audio. En resumen, el objetivo del video es proporcionar una guía para llevar a cabo la recogida de datos usando grupos focales con el fin de validar los conjuntos básicos de la CIF para la esquizofrenia desde la perspectiva del paciente y del familiar

Validation of the ICF Core Sets for Schizophrenia - Guideline to conduct Focus Groups

Videos que es posen a disposició per als investigadors colaboradors internacionals per la validació dels conjunts bàsics ICF per l’esquizophrenia.Veu en off: Sara Wright / Montatge i so: Laura MaldonadoThis video is a guideline to help any collaborator researcher in the study Validation of the ICF Core Sets for Schizophrenia how carry out a Focus Group. This is a video with two parts. In the part one, it is explained the aim of the video and some general considerations to perfom a focus group. In the part two, it is explained the procedure and the transcription of the audio data. In summary, the aim of this guide is to provide a feasible guideline to perfom the data collection using focus groups to validate the ICF Core Sets from the patient perspective

Validation of the ICF Core Sets for Schizophrenia - Guideline to conduct Focus Groups

Videos que es posen a disposició per als investigadors colaboradors internacionals per la validació dels conjunts bàsics ICF per l’esquizophrenia.Veu en off: Sara Wright / Montatge i so: Laura MaldonadoThis video is a guideline to help any collaborator researcher in the study Validation of the ICF Core Sets for Schizophrenia how carry out a Focus Group. This is a video with two parts. In the part one, it is explained the aim of the video and some general considerations to perfom a focus group. In the part two, it is explained the procedure and the transcription of the audio data. In summary, the aim of this guide is to provide a feasible guideline to perfom the data collection using focus groups to validate the ICF Core Sets from the patient perspective

Validación de los Conjuntos Básicos de la CIF para la esquizofrenia – Guía para la realización de Grupos Focales

Videos que es posen a disposició per als investigadors colaboradors internacionals per la validació dels conjunts bàsics ICF per l’esquizophrenia.Veu en off: Laura Maldonado / Montatge i so: Laura MaldonadoEste video es una guía para ayudar a cualquier investigador a realizar grupos focales. Este video contiene dos partes. En la primera parte, se aborda el objetivo del video y algunas consideraciones generales para realizar grupos focales. En la segunda parte del video se explica en detalle el trabajo preparatorio, el procedimiento y cómo transcribir el audio. En resumen, el objetivo del video es proporcionar una guía para llevar a cabo la recogida de datos usando grupos focales con el fin de validar los conjuntos básicos de la CIF para la esquizofrenia desde la perspectiva del paciente y del familiar