Relapse Evaluation using Smartphone Technology (REST)

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Relapse Evaluation using Smartphone Technology (REST): A feasibility study of predicting relapse using digital phenotyping

  • IRAS ID

    245218

  • Contact name

    Alisa Anokhina

  • Contact email

    alisa.anokhina@ucl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University College London

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Z6364106/2018/06/146 , UCL Data Protection Registration

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a smartphone health application to detect relapse in people with severe mental illness (SMI). This is done by passively recording physical movement, swiping patterns, and social meta-data which will translate into giving a picture of mood, cognition and behavioural markers.

    The first aim is to demonstrate the acceptability of the app (Discovery by Mindstrong) for UK patients treated in a community context and the percentage of patients presenting to services who have the motivation, physical resources and mental capacity to participate in the programme. Secondly, to demonstrate that data from smartphones can be linked into NHS Electronic Health Records. Thirdly, to develop a better understanding of how the application can be used to differentiate stable mental states from those which are indicative of imminent relapse. Finally, we intend to perform an initial test of the hypothesis that the data could act as an early warning sign for patient relapse in crisis teams or indeed another part of the service.

    In this study, particular attention will be paid to how Crisis Resolution and home Treatment teams (CRTs) are deployed in the context of relapse. Relapse will be defined as: admission to CRTs, crisis houses, day hospitals or inpatient wards within 12-months of joining the study. Patients will be recruited from the Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust. The goal of the smartphone application is to develop predictive models that can be used alongside standard care to reduce the time it takes to receive the appropriate level of care when symptoms first appear.

  • REC name

    London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/LO/2031

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 Mar 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion