Perspectives of Patients With Early Psychosis on the Use of an App in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Qualitative Study

IF 2.2 4区医学 Q3 PSYCHIATRY

Early Intervention in Psychiatry Pub Date : 2025-08-05 DOI:10.1111/eip.70073

Jara Bouws, Lotte Uyttebroek, Joanne R. Beames, Mariken de Koning, Frederike Schirmbeck, An Henrard, Ulrich Reininghaus, Lieuwe de Haan, Inez Myin-Germeys

{"title":"Perspectives of Patients With Early Psychosis on the Use of an App in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Jara Bouws, Lotte Uyttebroek, Joanne R. Beames, Mariken de Koning, Frederike Schirmbeck, An Henrard, Ulrich Reininghaus, Lieuwe de Haan, Inez Myin-Germeys","doi":"10.1111/eip.70073","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Introduction</h3>\n \n <p>Individuals with early psychosis received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in daily life (ACT-DL), consisting of 8 face-to-face sessions and use of a mobile app at home, as part of a randomised controlled trial (INTERACT). Those receiving ACT-DL showed improvement in negative symptoms and global functioning compared to the control condition. The current study qualitatively explores patients' perspectives on the ACT-DL app and perceived areas for improvement.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>The ACT-DL app prompted individuals randomly multiple times a day between therapy sessions to complete questionnaires (Ecological Momentary Assessments, EMA) and ACT metaphors or exercises (Ecological Momentary Interventions, EMI). User experiences with the ACT-DL app were explored in 17 semi-structured interviews within 6 months after the intervention and analysed using template thematic analysis.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Three themes were formed: 1. App functionalities and usability; consisting mainly of perceived practical obstacles. 2. Additional value of the app; on how the EMAs raised levels of awareness for feelings, thoughts, and behaviour, and the positive evaluation of the ACT exercises in the EMI part of the app. 3. Improving applicability and effect of the ACT-DL app; with practical feedback from participants.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>Individuals with early psychosis were generally positive about the effects of the ACT-DL app, attributing benefits to increased awareness via EMAs and to the ACT exercises. However, they experienced difficulties using the app during work and social activities. Participants provided valuable suggestions to improve the app's effectiveness and applicability.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":11385,"journal":{"name":"Early Intervention in Psychiatry","volume":"19 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eip.70073","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Early Intervention in Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eip.70073","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Individuals with early psychosis received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in daily life (ACT-DL), consisting of 8 face-to-face sessions and use of a mobile app at home, as part of a randomised controlled trial (INTERACT). Those receiving ACT-DL showed improvement in negative symptoms and global functioning compared to the control condition. The current study qualitatively explores patients' perspectives on the ACT-DL app and perceived areas for improvement.

Methods

The ACT-DL app prompted individuals randomly multiple times a day between therapy sessions to complete questionnaires (Ecological Momentary Assessments, EMA) and ACT metaphors or exercises (Ecological Momentary Interventions, EMI). User experiences with the ACT-DL app were explored in 17 semi-structured interviews within 6 months after the intervention and analysed using template thematic analysis.

Results

Three themes were formed: 1. App functionalities and usability; consisting mainly of perceived practical obstacles. 2. Additional value of the app; on how the EMAs raised levels of awareness for feelings, thoughts, and behaviour, and the positive evaluation of the ACT exercises in the EMI part of the app. 3. Improving applicability and effect of the ACT-DL app; with practical feedback from participants.

Conclusions

Individuals with early psychosis were generally positive about the effects of the ACT-DL app, attributing benefits to increased awareness via EMAs and to the ACT exercises. However, they experienced difficulties using the app during work and social activities. Participants provided valuable suggestions to improve the app's effectiveness and applicability.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

早期精神病患者在接受与承诺治疗中应用App的观点：一项定性研究

作为一项随机对照试验（INTERACT）的一部分，早期精神病患者在日常生活中接受接受和承诺治疗（ACT-DL），包括8次面对面治疗和在家使用移动应用程序。与对照组相比，接受ACT-DL治疗的患者表现出阴性症状和整体功能的改善。目前的研究定性地探讨了患者对ACT-DL应用程序的看法和需要改进的地方。方法ACT- dl应用程序在治疗期间每天多次随机提示个体完成问卷调查（生态瞬时评估，EMA）和ACT隐喻或练习（生态瞬时干预，EMI）。在干预后的6个月内，通过17次半结构化访谈探讨了ACT-DL应用程序的用户体验，并使用模板主题分析进行了分析。结果形成了三个主题：1。应用功能和可用性；主要由可感知的实际障碍组成的。2. 应用的附加价值；关于EMAs如何提高对情感、思想和行为的意识水平，以及在应用程序的EMI部分对ACT练习的积极评价。提高ACT-DL app的适用性和效果；根据参与者的实际反馈。结论：早期精神病患者通常对ACT- dl应用程序的效果持积极态度，将益处归因于通过EMAs和ACT练习提高的意识。然而，他们在工作和社交活动中使用这款应用时遇到了困难。与会者提供了宝贵的建议，以提高应用程序的有效性和适用性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Early Intervention in Psychiatry 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

5.00%

发文量

112

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Early Intervention in Psychiatry publishes original research articles and reviews dealing with the early recognition, diagnosis and treatment across the full range of mental and substance use disorders, as well as the underlying epidemiological, biological, psychological and social mechanisms that influence the onset and early course of these disorders. The journal provides comprehensive coverage of early intervention for the full range of psychiatric disorders and mental health problems, including schizophrenia and other psychoses, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders. Papers in any of the following fields are considered: diagnostic issues, psychopathology, clinical epidemiology, biological mechanisms, treatments and other forms of intervention, clinical trials, health services and economic research and mental health policy. Special features are also published, including hypotheses, controversies and snapshots of innovative service models.