Mobile applications developed for bipolar patients
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness known to affect 1-3 % of the world's population. It is characterised by extreme elevation in moods and deep depression, and affects both men and women equally. One of the consequences of this disorder is its impact on the quality of life for individuals who suffer from it. One third of those are reported to attempt suicide. There are also other negative impacts on relationships and productivity. The EU-funded UBICOM MENTAL HEALTH (Ubiquitous mental health support systems for managing long-term mental health illness) project developed clinically-validated mobile technologies to support people with bipolar disorder over their lifetime and to understand how technology currently impacts their lives. The project has successfully focused on establishing partnerships, gaining understanding of the state of the art of the field, and planning and developing software prototypes. Dissemination of the results took place via academic publications, formal presentations and in the media. A prototype system, MoodRhythm, was developed and piloted with patients and clinicians and won the prestigious Heritage Open mHealth Challenge. Following this, the focus was on the extensive participation of people with bipolar disorder and their clinicians to refine the design of the therapeutic mobile and web application. This work can have a positive impact for people with bipolar disorder by designing technologies that support assessment of well-being and help individuals to maintain balanced lives. It can also be relevant for other mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and major depression. Ultimately, it could help with stress management and with leading a more balanced and productive lifestyle.
