Purpose

The goal of this study is to utilize LAMP to identify digital biomarkers of mental illness that will help us learn about what factors influence both recovery as well as relapse in patients with psychosis. 

Method

Subjects use a smartphone app for 1 year that prompt symptom surveys and cognitive tests, while collecting background information including mobility, sociability, and exercise information.

Collection

Multiple types of information, including symptom surveys, cognitive assessments, GPS data, call & text logs, and physiological data are all collected from the LAMP app. 

Interpretation

The collected information allows us to establish a baseline of typical behavior for each data stream for every participant.  We then aim to understand if any deviations from this baseline corresponds with a mental health event. 

Implementation

Understanding how smartphone data correlates to a mental health event could help us better understand not only the mechanisms of these illnesses but also new opportunities to intervene in the future. 

Interested in participating?

Eligibility criteria: ​

• Own a smartphone (Apple or Android)
• Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• 18-30 years old

Study Details:
This study involves a visit to the Massachusetts Mental Health Center
​(75 Fenwood Road, Boston) each month for up to one year.
Participants can receive up to $400 for completion of the study. 

Relevant Reading

• Torous J, Firth J, Mueller N, Onnela JP,Baker JT. Methodology and Reporting of Mobile Heath and Smartphone Application Studies for Schizophrenia. Harvard review of psychiatry. 2017 May1;25(3):146-54.
• Firth J, Torous J, Nicholas J, Carney R,Pratap A, Rosenbaum S, Sarris J. The efficacy of smartphone‐based mental health interventions for depressive symptoms: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. World Psychiatry. 2017 Oct;16(3):287-98.
• Ben-Zeev D, Brian R, Wang R, Wang W, CampbellA T, Aung MS, Merrill M, Tseng VW, Choudhury T, Hauser M, Kane JM. Cross Check:Integrating Self-Report, Behavioral Sensing, and Smartphone Use to Identify Digital Indicators of Psychotic Relapse.
• Naslund JA, Aschbrenner KA, Bartels SJ.Wearable devices and smartphones for activity tracking among people with serious mental illness. Mental health and physical activity. 2016 Mar31;10:10-7.

Questions?

Please contact Devayani
djoshi@bidmc.harvard.edu
617-667-0035