Empowering Quality of Life Monitoring and Self-Management in Bipolar Disorder: Pilot Evaluation of the PolarUs App

IF 3.9 2区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Bipolar Disorders Pub Date : 2026-03-05 DOI:10.1111/bdi.70096

Erin E. Michalak, Emma E. Morton, Denny Meyer, Greg Murray, Heather L. O′Brien, Steven J. Barnes

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Smartphone apps facilitate the dissemination of resources to help people with bipolar disorder (BD) implement self-management strategies. However, current apps do not address all treatment outcomes valued by people with BD, nor are they designed with scalability in mind. This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an alpha version of the co-designed PolarUs app, a self-guided intervention developed to support quality of life (QoL) self-monitoring and self-management in BD.

Methods

North American residents with a confirmed diagnosis of BD used the iOS PolarUs app for 12 weeks. To assess feasibility, adherence rates were assessed, operationalized by completion of weekly in-app Brief Quality of Life in BD (QoL.BD) scores. Linear mixed modeling was used to test the hypothesis that QoL (primary outcome) would improve over the intervention period and explore secondary outcomes (i.e., mood symptoms, self-efficacy, subjective recovery, self-compassion). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to investigate associations between app adherence and primary outcomes.

Results

In 170 participants (70% women, mean age 39 years SD = 12.1) there was a steady decline in app adherence over the intervention period, with 37% of participants completing their final weekly assessment. However, significant improvements were observed overall for QoL, mood symptoms, and self-compassion. Four distinct app adherence clusters were observed, displaying varying relationships with baseline QoL and trajectories of QoL improvement.

Conclusions

Preliminary adherence and efficacy data for the PolarUs app are positive and demonstrate how the inclusion of lived experience perspectives in app development supports intervention acceptability and impact.

Abstract Image

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授权双相情感障碍患者的生活质量监测和自我管理：PolarUs应用程序的试点评估。

目的：智能手机应用程序促进资源的传播，帮助双相情感障碍（BD）患者实施自我管理策略。然而，目前的应用程序并没有解决双相障碍患者所重视的所有治疗结果，也没有在设计时考虑到可扩展性。本研究评估了共同设计的PolarUs应用程序alpha版本的可行性和初步疗效，该应用程序是一种自我引导干预，旨在支持BD患者的生活质量（QoL）自我监测和自我管理。方法：确诊为BD的北美居民使用iOS PolarUs应用程序12周。为了评估可行性，通过每周完成应用程序内BD生活质量（QoL.BD）评分来评估依从率。采用线性混合模型检验在干预期间生活质量（主要结局）会改善的假设，并探讨次要结局（即情绪症状、自我效能、主观恢复、自我同情）。分层聚类分析用于调查应用程序依从性与主要结果之间的关系。结果：在170名参与者中（70%为女性，平均年龄39岁SD = 12.1），在干预期间，应用程序的依从性稳步下降，37%的参与者完成了最终的每周评估。然而，总体而言，在生活质量、情绪症状和自我同情方面观察到显著的改善。观察到四种不同的应用程序依从性集群，显示出与基线生活质量和生活质量改善轨迹的不同关系。结论：PolarUs应用程序的初步依从性和疗效数据是积极的，并证明了在应用程序开发中纳入生活经验观点如何支持干预的可接受性和影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Bipolar Disorders 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

8.20

自引率

7.40%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Bipolar Disorders is an international journal that publishes all research of relevance for the basic mechanisms, clinical aspects, or treatment of bipolar disorders and related illnesses. It intends to provide a single international outlet for new research in this area and covers research in the following areas: biochemistry physiology neuropsychopharmacology neuroanatomy neuropathology genetics brain imaging epidemiology phenomenology clinical aspects and therapeutics of bipolar disorders Bipolar Disorders also contains papers that form the development of new therapeutic strategies for these disorders as well as papers on the topics of schizoaffective disorders, and depressive disorders as these can be cyclic disorders with areas of overlap with bipolar disorders. The journal will consider for publication submissions within the domain of: Perspectives, Research Articles, Correspondence, Clinical Corner, and Reflections. Within these there are a number of types of articles: invited editorials, debates, review articles, original articles, commentaries, letters to the editors, clinical conundrums, clinical curiosities, clinical care, and musings.