Exploring the emotional dynamics of subclinically depressed individuals with and without anhedonia:An experience sampling study

Background: Anhedonia has been linked to worse prognosis of depression. The present study aimed to construct personalized models to elucidate the emotional dynamics of subclinically depressed individuals with versus without symptoms of anhedonia. Methods: Matched subclinically depressed individuals with and without symptoms of anhedonia (N = 40) of the HowNutsAreTheDutch sample completed three experience sampling methodology assessments per day for 30 days. For each individual, the impact of physical activity, stress experience, and high/low arousal PA/NA on each other was estimated through automated impulse response function analysis (IRF). These individual IRF associations were combined to compare anhedonic versus non-anhedonic individuals. Results: Physical activity had low impact on affect in both groups. In non-anhedonic individuals, stress experience increased NA and decreased PA and physical activity more strongly. In anhedonic individuals, PA high arousal showed a diminished favorable impact on affect (increasing NA/stress experience, decreasing PA/physical activity). Finally, large heterogeneity in the personalized models of emotional dynamics were found. Limitations: Stress experience was measured indirectly by assessing level of distress; the timeframe in between measurements was relatively long with 6 h; and only information on one of the two hallmarks of anhedonia, loss of interest, was gathered. Conclusions: Our results suggest different pathways of emotional dynamics underlie depressive symptomatology. Subclinically depressed individuals with anhedonic complaints are more strongly characterized by diminished favorable impact of PA high arousal and heightened NA reactivity, whereas subclinically depressed individuals without these anhedonic complaints seem more characterized by heightened stress reactivity. The automatically generated personalized models may offer patient-specific insights in emotional dynamics, which may show clinical relevance

Ecological momentary assessment as a clinical tool in psychiatry:promises, pitfalls, and possibilities

Achtergrond: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is een veelbelovende methode om meer inzicht te krijgen in het dagelijks leven van mensen met psychische problemen. Met EMA houden patiënten meermaals per dag hun symptomen, emoties, (sociale) activiteiten en gebeurtenissen bij. Door statistische methodieken, zoals netwerkanalyse, zou EMA-feedback nieuwe inzichten kunnen opleveren in de psychiatrische zorg.Doel: De belofte, valkuilen en mogelijkheden van EMA en netwerkanalyse voor de psychiatrische zorg onderzoeken.Methode: We gebruikten empirische netwerkstudies, reviews en kwalitatief onderzoek om de stand van onderzoek en de perspectieven van patiënten en behandelaars op EMA en netwerkanalyse in kaart te brengen. Daarnaast bespreken we een studie waarbij 20 patiënten met een bipolaire stoornis 4 maanden lang 5 maal per dag EMA-dagboeken invulden binnen hun behandeling.Resultaten: Studies naar netwerkanalyse lieten inconsistente bevindingen zien. Kwalitatief onderzoek wees uit dat patiënten met bipolaire stoornis en hun behandelaars de meerwaarde van EMA voor de zorg zien, met name in het versterken van inzicht en eigen regie. Tegelijkertijd vonden sommigen EMA belastend. Integratie van EMA in de zorg vereist personalisatie en goede aansluiting met bestaande behandelmethoden.Conclusie: EMA heeft toegevoegde waarde voor de psychiatrische zorg, mits het zorgvuldig ingezet wordt.BACKGROUND: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to gain insight into the daily lives of people with mental disorders. EMA can be used to monitor mood, symptoms, and experiences multiple times per day. Using advanced statistical methods, such as network analysis, as EMA feedback might result in novel insights that are relevant to psychiatric care. AIM: To investigate the promise, pitfalls, and possibilities of EMA and network analysis for psychiatric care. METHOD: Empirical network studies, reviews, and qualitative research were employed to investigate the state of research and the perspectives of patients and clinicians on EMA and network analysis. Furthermore, an empirical study will be discussed, in which twenty patients with bipolar disorders completed five EMA diaries per day for four months within treatment. RESULTS: Studies using network analysis demonstrated conflicting results. Qualitative research indicated that bipolar patients and clinicians are aware of the added benefit of EMA for psychiatric care, especially for improving insight and self-management. At the same time, EMA was seen as burdensome. Personalization and integration with existing treatment protocols emerged as necessary requirements for adequate implementation of EMA in psychiatric care. CONCLUSION: EMA can have added value for psychiatric care, provided it is adequately implemented. BACKGROUND: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to gain insight into the daily lives of people with mental disorders. EMA can be used to monitor mood, symptoms, and experiences multiple times per day. Using advanced statistical methods, such as network analysis, as EMA feedback might result in novel insights that are relevant to psychiatric care. AIM: To investigate the promise, pitfalls, and possibilities of EMA and network analysis for psychiatric care. METHOD: Empirical network studies, reviews, and qualitative research were employed to investigate the state of research and the perspectives of patients and clinicians on EMA and network analysis. Furthermore, an empirical study will be discussed, in which twenty patients with bipolar disorders completed five EMA diaries per day for four months within treatment. RESULTS: Studies using network analysis demonstrated conflicting results. Qualitative research indicated that bipolar patients and clinicians are aware of the added benefit of EMA for psychiatric care, especially for improving insight and self-management. At the same time, EMA was seen as burdensome. Personalization and integration with existing treatment protocols emerged as necessary requirements for adequate implementation of EMA in psychiatric care. CONCLUSION: EMA can have added value for psychiatric care, provided it is adequately implemented.</p

Ecological momentary assessment as a clinical tool in psychiatry:promises, pitfalls, and possibilities

Achtergrond: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is een veelbelovende methode om meer inzicht te krijgen in het dagelijks leven van mensen met psychische problemen. Met EMA houden patiënten meermaals per dag hun symptomen, emoties, (sociale) activiteiten en gebeurtenissen bij. Door statistische methodieken, zoals netwerkanalyse, zou EMA-feedback nieuwe inzichten kunnen opleveren in de psychiatrische zorg.Doel: De belofte, valkuilen en mogelijkheden van EMA en netwerkanalyse voor de psychiatrische zorg onderzoeken.Methode: We gebruikten empirische netwerkstudies, reviews en kwalitatief onderzoek om de stand van onderzoek en de perspectieven van patiënten en behandelaars op EMA en netwerkanalyse in kaart te brengen. Daarnaast bespreken we een studie waarbij 20 patiënten met een bipolaire stoornis 4 maanden lang 5 maal per dag EMA-dagboeken invulden binnen hun behandeling.Resultaten: Studies naar netwerkanalyse lieten inconsistente bevindingen zien. Kwalitatief onderzoek wees uit dat patiënten met bipolaire stoornis en hun behandelaars de meerwaarde van EMA voor de zorg zien, met name in het versterken van inzicht en eigen regie. Tegelijkertijd vonden sommigen EMA belastend. Integratie van EMA in de zorg vereist personalisatie en goede aansluiting met bestaande behandelmethoden.Conclusie: EMA heeft toegevoegde waarde voor de psychiatrische zorg, mits het zorgvuldig ingezet wordt.BACKGROUND: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to gain insight into the daily lives of people with mental disorders. EMA can be used to monitor mood, symptoms, and experiences multiple times per day. Using advanced statistical methods, such as network analysis, as EMA feedback might result in novel insights that are relevant to psychiatric care. AIM: To investigate the promise, pitfalls, and possibilities of EMA and network analysis for psychiatric care. METHOD: Empirical network studies, reviews, and qualitative research were employed to investigate the state of research and the perspectives of patients and clinicians on EMA and network analysis. Furthermore, an empirical study will be discussed, in which twenty patients with bipolar disorders completed five EMA diaries per day for four months within treatment. RESULTS: Studies using network analysis demonstrated conflicting results. Qualitative research indicated that bipolar patients and clinicians are aware of the added benefit of EMA for psychiatric care, especially for improving insight and self-management. At the same time, EMA was seen as burdensome. Personalization and integration with existing treatment protocols emerged as necessary requirements for adequate implementation of EMA in psychiatric care. CONCLUSION: EMA can have added value for psychiatric care, provided it is adequately implemented. BACKGROUND: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to gain insight into the daily lives of people with mental disorders. EMA can be used to monitor mood, symptoms, and experiences multiple times per day. Using advanced statistical methods, such as network analysis, as EMA feedback might result in novel insights that are relevant to psychiatric care. AIM: To investigate the promise, pitfalls, and possibilities of EMA and network analysis for psychiatric care. METHOD: Empirical network studies, reviews, and qualitative research were employed to investigate the state of research and the perspectives of patients and clinicians on EMA and network analysis. Furthermore, an empirical study will be discussed, in which twenty patients with bipolar disorders completed five EMA diaries per day for four months within treatment. RESULTS: Studies using network analysis demonstrated conflicting results. Qualitative research indicated that bipolar patients and clinicians are aware of the added benefit of EMA for psychiatric care, especially for improving insight and self-management. At the same time, EMA was seen as burdensome. Personalization and integration with existing treatment protocols emerged as necessary requirements for adequate implementation of EMA in psychiatric care. CONCLUSION: EMA can have added value for psychiatric care, provided it is adequately implemented.</p

Ecological momentary assessment as a clinical tool in psychiatry:promises, pitfalls, and possibilities

Achtergrond: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is een veelbelovende methode om meer inzicht te krijgen in het dagelijks leven van mensen met psychische problemen. Met EMA houden patiënten meermaals per dag hun symptomen, emoties, (sociale) activiteiten en gebeurtenissen bij. Door statistische methodieken, zoals netwerkanalyse, zou EMA-feedback nieuwe inzichten kunnen opleveren in de psychiatrische zorg.Doel: De belofte, valkuilen en mogelijkheden van EMA en netwerkanalyse voor de psychiatrische zorg onderzoeken.Methode: We gebruikten empirische netwerkstudies, reviews en kwalitatief onderzoek om de stand van onderzoek en de perspectieven van patiënten en behandelaars op EMA en netwerkanalyse in kaart te brengen. Daarnaast bespreken we een studie waarbij 20 patiënten met een bipolaire stoornis 4 maanden lang 5 maal per dag EMA-dagboeken invulden binnen hun behandeling.Resultaten: Studies naar netwerkanalyse lieten inconsistente bevindingen zien. Kwalitatief onderzoek wees uit dat patiënten met bipolaire stoornis en hun behandelaars de meerwaarde van EMA voor de zorg zien, met name in het versterken van inzicht en eigen regie. Tegelijkertijd vonden sommigen EMA belastend. Integratie van EMA in de zorg vereist personalisatie en goede aansluiting met bestaande behandelmethoden.Conclusie: EMA heeft toegevoegde waarde voor de psychiatrische zorg, mits het zorgvuldig ingezet wordt.BACKGROUND: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to gain insight into the daily lives of people with mental disorders. EMA can be used to monitor mood, symptoms, and experiences multiple times per day. Using advanced statistical methods, such as network analysis, as EMA feedback might result in novel insights that are relevant to psychiatric care. AIM: To investigate the promise, pitfalls, and possibilities of EMA and network analysis for psychiatric care. METHOD: Empirical network studies, reviews, and qualitative research were employed to investigate the state of research and the perspectives of patients and clinicians on EMA and network analysis. Furthermore, an empirical study will be discussed, in which twenty patients with bipolar disorders completed five EMA diaries per day for four months within treatment. RESULTS: Studies using network analysis demonstrated conflicting results. Qualitative research indicated that bipolar patients and clinicians are aware of the added benefit of EMA for psychiatric care, especially for improving insight and self-management. At the same time, EMA was seen as burdensome. Personalization and integration with existing treatment protocols emerged as necessary requirements for adequate implementation of EMA in psychiatric care. CONCLUSION: EMA can have added value for psychiatric care, provided it is adequately implemented. BACKGROUND: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to gain insight into the daily lives of people with mental disorders. EMA can be used to monitor mood, symptoms, and experiences multiple times per day. Using advanced statistical methods, such as network analysis, as EMA feedback might result in novel insights that are relevant to psychiatric care. AIM: To investigate the promise, pitfalls, and possibilities of EMA and network analysis for psychiatric care. METHOD: Empirical network studies, reviews, and qualitative research were employed to investigate the state of research and the perspectives of patients and clinicians on EMA and network analysis. Furthermore, an empirical study will be discussed, in which twenty patients with bipolar disorders completed five EMA diaries per day for four months within treatment. RESULTS: Studies using network analysis demonstrated conflicting results. Qualitative research indicated that bipolar patients and clinicians are aware of the added benefit of EMA for psychiatric care, especially for improving insight and self-management. At the same time, EMA was seen as burdensome. Personalization and integration with existing treatment protocols emerged as necessary requirements for adequate implementation of EMA in psychiatric care. CONCLUSION: EMA can have added value for psychiatric care, provided it is adequately implemented.</p

Let's get Physiqual - An intuitive and generic method to combine sensor technology with ecological momentary assessments

The emergence of wearables and smartwatches is making sensors a ubiquitous technology to measure daily rhythms in physiological measures, such as movement and heart rate. An integration of sensor data from wearables and self-report questionnaire data about cognition, behaviors, and emotions can provide new insights into the interaction of mental and physiological processes in daily life. Hitherto no method existed that enables an easy-to-use integration of sensor and self-report data. To fill this gap, we present 'Physiqual', a platform for researchers that gathers and integrates data from commercially available sensors and service providers into one unified format for use in Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) or Experience Sampling Methods (ESM), and Quantified Self (QS). Physiqual currently supports sensor data provided by two well-known service providers and therewith a wide range of smartwatches and wearables. To demonstrate the features of Physiqual, we conducted a case study in which we assessed two subjects by means of data from an EMA study combined with sensor data as aggregated and exported by Physiqual. To the best of our knowledge, the Physiqual platform is the first platform that allows researchers to conveniently aggregate and integrate physiological sensor data with EMA studies. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved