TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving mental health in U.S. Veterans using mHealth tools
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Latour, Chase
AU - O’Byrne, Lorcan
AU - McCarthy, Margaret
AU - Chacko, Ravi
AU - Russell, Elizabeth
AU - Price, Rumi Kato
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The study was in part supported by the Washington University, Institute for Public Health, Center for Dissemination and Implementation Pilot Program [CDI grant number 2016-03] (CL, MM, RP) and the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences [grant number UL1TR000448, sub-award number TL1TR000449], from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (RC). In addition, this work was completed as part of a summer program supported by the Institute for Public Health and its Global Health Center of Washington University in St. Louis; the Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, and Pediatrics in Washington University’s School of Medicine; the Children’s Discovery Institute of Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital; Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Charitable Giving Program; Stephanie and Chris Doerr; and Dr. and Mrs. Mark Stephen Gold (LO).
Funding Information:
We would like to thank Kathleen Spearman for her contributions as an interviewer. We are most grateful to the Veterans who participated in this pilot study. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The study was in part supported by the Washington University, Institute for Public Health, Center for Dissemination and Implementation Pilot Program [CDI grant number 2016-03] (CL, MM, RP) and the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences [grant number UL1TR000448, sub-award number TL1TR000449], from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (RC). In addition, this work was completed as part of a summer program supported by the Institute for Public Health and its Global Health Center of Washington University in St. Louis; the Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, and Pediatrics in Washington University?s School of Medicine; the Children?s Discovery Institute of Washington University and St. Louis Children?s Hospital; Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Charitable Giving Program; Stephanie and Chris Doerr; and Dr. and Mrs. Mark Stephen Gold (LO).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Rates of PTSD remain elevated among U.S. Veterans, highlighting a need for innovative management tools. Previous studies have shown mobile apps to have positive effects on PTSD symptoms, but few apps have been examined systematically. This pilot study evaluated the perceived effectiveness and usability of Mindset, a novel mobile app that monitors user stress level via heart rate to encourage e-therapy use. The study sample included 30 community-residing Veterans who completed baseline assessments. They used the Mindset app and associated smartwatch until their approximate 1-month follow-up. Self-reported assessments included pre- and post-deployment experiences; experience with Mindset; and standard screeners for PTSD (PCL-M), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and alcohol use problems (AUDIT). Among the 24 participants who completed follow-up interviews, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) was found in PCL-M, PHQ-9, and modified AUDIT scores. Respondents reported moderate to high acceptance and satisfaction with Mindset features, though considerable frustration with the associated smartwatch. These findings highlight mHealth apps such as Mindset as potentially useful tools for PTSD and depression symptom management. These findings are also encouraging in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which may accelerate further innovation and implementation of mHealth technologies to improve mental health self-care.
AB - Rates of PTSD remain elevated among U.S. Veterans, highlighting a need for innovative management tools. Previous studies have shown mobile apps to have positive effects on PTSD symptoms, but few apps have been examined systematically. This pilot study evaluated the perceived effectiveness and usability of Mindset, a novel mobile app that monitors user stress level via heart rate to encourage e-therapy use. The study sample included 30 community-residing Veterans who completed baseline assessments. They used the Mindset app and associated smartwatch until their approximate 1-month follow-up. Self-reported assessments included pre- and post-deployment experiences; experience with Mindset; and standard screeners for PTSD (PCL-M), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and alcohol use problems (AUDIT). Among the 24 participants who completed follow-up interviews, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) was found in PCL-M, PHQ-9, and modified AUDIT scores. Respondents reported moderate to high acceptance and satisfaction with Mindset features, though considerable frustration with the associated smartwatch. These findings highlight mHealth apps such as Mindset as potentially useful tools for PTSD and depression symptom management. These findings are also encouraging in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which may accelerate further innovation and implementation of mHealth technologies to improve mental health self-care.
KW - U.S. Veterans
KW - mental health
KW - mobile applications
KW - post-traumatic stress disorder
KW - stress monitor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091511712&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1460458220954613
DO - 10.1177/1460458220954613
M3 - Article
C2 - 32972313
AN - SCOPUS:85091511712
SN - 1460-4582
VL - 26
SP - 3201
EP - 3214
JO - Health Informatics Journal
JF - Health Informatics Journal
IS - 4
ER -