Mobile Application for Self-Management in Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study

Abstract

There is an urgent need to develop more effective interventions for psychotic disorders. Mobile Health solutions can address this emerging problem but needs more research. This study aims to present a new intervention and have some preliminary data about weCOPE. The sample is constituted by nine participants with a mean age of 38 years (±9.701), being 78% men, and with mean clinical follow-up time of 10 years. The intervention lasted eight weeks and was followed by each user's case manager. The data collection was carried out in two moments (before and after the application use), using six evaluation instruments: Recovery Assessment Scale, Empowerment Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Social Support Satisfaction Scale, Personal and Social Performance Scale, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. The data collected through these instruments were analyzed later through descriptive and inferential statistics. The majority of the results were significant and indicate that weCOPE may produce an improvement in symptoms (general psychopathology), empowerment, recovery, satisfaction with social support, self-efficacy, and personal and social functioning. Thus, this kind of mobile technologies for schizophrenia self-management may contribute to a subjective perception of the patient's better well-being and health condition.

Keywords:

• Impact of technology
• mobile application
• schizophrenia
• self-management
• mHealth