J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2018 Aug;57(3):244-254. 10.4306/jknpa.2018.57.3.244.

Developing and Clinical Application of a Smartphone Mobile Mood Chart Application in Korean for Patients with Bipolar Disorder

• Song K
• Lee S
• Yoon W
• Kim C
• Joo Y
• Lee J
• Chon MW

• KMID: 2429229
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2018.57.3.244

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to develop a Korean version of a mood chart application on an Android platform.
METHODS
This application is based on the traditional mood chart. Eighteen adults with DSM-5 bipolar disorder were enrolled from November 2016 to March 2017. They were asked to rate their daily mood scores and severity of irritability and impulsivity for six months. Their clinicians rated their symptom severity monthly using the Clinical Global Impression-7 (CGI-7) scale. After six months, the participants completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with the application.
RESULTS
Of the 18 patients, one withdrew their consent from this study and six were males (35.3%) ; their mean age was 31.71±8.56 years. The mean follow-up duration was 159.12±49.45 days and the period of application use was 143.65±52.11 days. The mean total response rate was 59.45% and the mean response rate on the same day was 43.06%. The adherence to using the application decreased significantly declined over the duration since enrollment [odds ratio (OR)=1.008, p=0.008] but tended to increase according to age (OR=0.958, p=0.002). The application mood scores were correlated significantly with the manic (β=0.307, p=0.004) and depressive (β=−0.701, p < 0.001) subscale, and the total (β=1.026, p=0.002) of the CGI-7 (linear mixed models). The majority of subjects agreed that the application helped them manage their symptoms (92.86%), stating that the application was easy to use (78.57%).
CONCLUSION
This application could be a valid and useful tool to monitor the mood symptoms of patients with bipolar disorder in Korea.

Keyword

Bipolar disorder; Mood disorders; Telemedicine; Self care

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anonyms and Pseudonyms
Bipolar Disorder*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Impulsive Behavior
Korea
Male
Methyltestosterone
Mood Disorders
Self Care
Smartphone*
Telemedicine
Methyltestosterone

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A screenshot of the actual user interface of the application. (A) Today's mood : By touching the green box, a display shows detailed descriptions about mood and daily mood score ratings ranging from the most severely depressed (−10) to the most severely manic (+10). (B, C) Irritability, Impulsivity can be rated, on a 4-point scale of absent, mild, severe, and very severe. (D) Yesterday's total sleep time can be checked by scrolling the clock. (E) Today's event (optional) : Special events can also be noted. (F) Medication : Side effects of any drugs the user takes can be entered (optional). (G) Menstruation : Women can note if they are menstruating or not (optional).

• 

  Fig. 2 The first screen of the mood chart application provides an overview of the flow of mood, irritability, impulsivity, total sleep time, and body weight.

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