2024
González-Pérez, Alberto; Díaz-Sanahuja, Laura; Matey-Sanz, Miguel; Osma, Jorge; Granell-Canut, Carlos; Bretón-López, Juana; Casteleyn, Sven
Towards a self-applied, mobile-based geolocated exposure therapy software for anxiety disorders: SyMptOMS-ET app Journal Article
In: Digital Health, vol. 10, pp. 1-17, 2024, ISBN: 2055-2076.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: exposure therapy, mental health, mHealth, smartphone app
@article{Gonzalez-Perez2024a,
title = {Towards a self-applied, mobile-based geolocated exposure therapy software for anxiety disorders: SyMptOMS-ET app},
author = {Alberto González-Pérez and Laura Díaz-Sanahuja and Miguel Matey-Sanz and Jorge Osma and Carlos Granell-Canut and Juana Bretón-López and Sven Casteleyn},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241283942},
isbn = {2055-2076},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-10-28},
urldate = {2024-10-28},
journal = {Digital Health},
volume = {10},
pages = {1-17},
abstract = {Objective
While exposure therapy (ET) has the potential to help people tolerate intense situation-specific emotions and change avoidance behaviours, no smartphone solution exists to guide the process of in-vivo ET. A geolocation-based smartphone software component was designed and developed to instrumentalize patient guidance in in-vivo ET and its psychological validity was assessed by a group of independent psychology experts.
Methods
A team of computer scientists and psychologists developed the ET Component for in-vivo ET using geolocation-based technology, following the process-centred design methodology. The ET Component was integrated into the SyMptOMS-ET Android application, which was developed following the co-design methodology. Next, nine independent psychology experts tested and evaluated the ET Component and the SyMptOMS-ET app in the field, following the think-aloud methodology. Participants also completed the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) instrument to quantitatively evaluate the solutions.
Results
We present the SyMptOMS-ET app’s main features and the ET Component exposure workflow. Next, we discuss the feedback obtained and the results of the MARS instrument. Participants who tested the app were satisfied with the ET Component during exposure scenarios (score of mu4.32 out of 5 [mu 0.28] on MARS quality aspects), agreed on the soundness of the theoretical foundations of the solutions developed (score of mu4.57 [mu0.48] on MARS treatment support aspects), and provided minor think-a-loud comments to improve them.
Conclusions
The results of the expert evaluation demonstrate the psychological validity of the ET Component and the SyMptOMS-ET app. However, further studies are needed to discern the acceptability and efficacy of the mHealth tool in the target population.},
keywords = {exposure therapy, mental health, mHealth, smartphone app},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Objective
While exposure therapy (ET) has the potential to help people tolerate intense situation-specific emotions and change avoidance behaviours, no smartphone solution exists to guide the process of in-vivo ET. A geolocation-based smartphone software component was designed and developed to instrumentalize patient guidance in in-vivo ET and its psychological validity was assessed by a group of independent psychology experts.
Methods
A team of computer scientists and psychologists developed the ET Component for in-vivo ET using geolocation-based technology, following the process-centred design methodology. The ET Component was integrated into the SyMptOMS-ET Android application, which was developed following the co-design methodology. Next, nine independent psychology experts tested and evaluated the ET Component and the SyMptOMS-ET app in the field, following the think-aloud methodology. Participants also completed the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) instrument to quantitatively evaluate the solutions.
Results
We present the SyMptOMS-ET app’s main features and the ET Component exposure workflow. Next, we discuss the feedback obtained and the results of the MARS instrument. Participants who tested the app were satisfied with the ET Component during exposure scenarios (score of mu4.32 out of 5 [mu 0.28] on MARS quality aspects), agreed on the soundness of the theoretical foundations of the solutions developed (score of mu4.57 [mu0.48] on MARS treatment support aspects), and provided minor think-a-loud comments to improve them.
Conclusions
The results of the expert evaluation demonstrate the psychological validity of the ET Component and the SyMptOMS-ET app. However, further studies are needed to discern the acceptability and efficacy of the mHealth tool in the target population.
While exposure therapy (ET) has the potential to help people tolerate intense situation-specific emotions and change avoidance behaviours, no smartphone solution exists to guide the process of in-vivo ET. A geolocation-based smartphone software component was designed and developed to instrumentalize patient guidance in in-vivo ET and its psychological validity was assessed by a group of independent psychology experts.
Methods
A team of computer scientists and psychologists developed the ET Component for in-vivo ET using geolocation-based technology, following the process-centred design methodology. The ET Component was integrated into the SyMptOMS-ET Android application, which was developed following the co-design methodology. Next, nine independent psychology experts tested and evaluated the ET Component and the SyMptOMS-ET app in the field, following the think-aloud methodology. Participants also completed the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) instrument to quantitatively evaluate the solutions.
Results
We present the SyMptOMS-ET app’s main features and the ET Component exposure workflow. Next, we discuss the feedback obtained and the results of the MARS instrument. Participants who tested the app were satisfied with the ET Component during exposure scenarios (score of mu4.32 out of 5 [mu 0.28] on MARS quality aspects), agreed on the soundness of the theoretical foundations of the solutions developed (score of mu4.57 [mu0.48] on MARS treatment support aspects), and provided minor think-a-loud comments to improve them.
Conclusions
The results of the expert evaluation demonstrate the psychological validity of the ET Component and the SyMptOMS-ET app. However, further studies are needed to discern the acceptability and efficacy of the mHealth tool in the target population.
2023
González-Pérez, Alberto
Applying Mobile and Geospatial Technologies to Ecological Momentary Interventions PhD Thesis
Universitat Jaume I. INIT, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: cognitive-behavioural therapy, exposure therapy, Mobile apps, mobile computing, symptoms
@phdthesis{Gonzalez-Perez2023b,
title = {Applying Mobile and Geospatial Technologies to Ecological Momentary Interventions},
author = {Alberto González-Pérez},
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.6035/14101.2023.533823},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-07},
school = {Universitat Jaume I. INIT},
abstract = {Today a large percentage of the population suffers from anxiety-related problems. This anxiety can appear in day-to-day situations. An effective therapy for these problems is exposure. In it, the person is gradually exposed to what he fears. However, these therapy sessions are long and force the patient and therapist to travel to a specific place. Here, the use of a mobile application that guides the patient during the exposure sessions can be beneficial. Until now, this application did not exist, due to the complexity of its implementation. In this doctoral thesis, the necessary tools have been implemented to facilitate the implementation of this type of solution. In addition, in collaboration with psychology professionals, a mobile application has been implemented to self-guide exposure, which has been positively assessed by an external committee of experts.},
keywords = {cognitive-behavioural therapy, exposure therapy, Mobile apps, mobile computing, symptoms},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
Today a large percentage of the population suffers from anxiety-related problems. This anxiety can appear in day-to-day situations. An effective therapy for these problems is exposure. In it, the person is gradually exposed to what he fears. However, these therapy sessions are long and force the patient and therapist to travel to a specific place. Here, the use of a mobile application that guides the patient during the exposure sessions can be beneficial. Until now, this application did not exist, due to the complexity of its implementation. In this doctoral thesis, the necessary tools have been implemented to facilitate the implementation of this type of solution. In addition, in collaboration with psychology professionals, a mobile application has been implemented to self-guide exposure, which has been positively assessed by an external committee of experts.