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. 2013 Jul 24;3(7):e003353.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003353. Print 2013.

Daily electronic self-monitoring of subjective and objective symptoms in bipolar disorder--the MONARCA trial protocol (MONitoring, treAtment and pRediCtion of bipolAr disorder episodes): a randomised controlled single-blind trial

Maria Faurholt-Jepsen  1 , Maj Vinberg, Ellen Margrethe Christensen, Mads Frost, Jakob Bardram, Lars Vedel Kessing
Affiliations

Daily electronic self-monitoring of subjective and objective symptoms in bipolar disorder--the MONARCA trial protocol (MONitoring, treAtment and pRediCtion of bipolAr disorder episodes): a randomised controlled single-blind trial

Maria Faurholt-Jepsen et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Electronic self-monitoring of affective symptoms using cell phones is suggested as a practical and inexpensive way to monitor illness activity and identify early signs of affective symptoms. It has never been tested in a randomised clinical trial whether electronic self-monitoring improves outcomes in bipolar disorder. We are conducting a trial testing the effect of using a Smartphone for self-monitoring in bipolar disorder.

Methods: We developed the MONARCA application for Android-based Smartphones, allowing patients suffering from bipolar disorder to do daily self-monitoring-including an interactive feedback loop between patients and clinicians through a web-based interface. The effect of the application was tested in a parallel-group, single-blind randomised controlled trial so far including 78 patients suffering from bipolar disorder in the age group 18-60 years who were given the use of a Smartphone with the MONARCA application (intervention group) or to the use of a cell phone without the application (placebo group) during a 6-month study period. The study was carried out from September 2011. The outcomes were changes in affective symptoms (primary), social functioning, perceived stress, self-rated depressive and manic symptoms, quality of life, adherence to medication, stress and cognitive functioning (secondary and tertiary).

Analysis: Recruitment is ongoing.

Ethics: Ethical permission has been obtained.

Dissemination: Positive, neutral and negative findings of the study will be published.

Registration details: The trial is approved by the Regional Ethics Committee in The Capital Region of Denmark (H-2-2011-056) and The Danish Data Protection Agency (2013-41-1710). The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01446406.

Keywords: Medical Education & Training; Mental Health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MONARCA—flow diagram chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Frontpage.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Self-assessment.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Visualisation.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Medication.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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