Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use

Background Increasingly, studies and reviews have highlighted the potentials of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) and wearables in suicide research. However, to date it is only poorly understood how patients experience frequent assessment of suicidal ideation over weeks and months. Methods Fol...

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Main Authors: Lena Spangenberg, Luise Böhler, Tina-Marie Hoke, Jana Serebriakova, Jannik Eimen, Thomas Forkmann, Maria Strauss, Katarina Stengler, Heide Glaesmer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339265
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author Lena Spangenberg
Luise Böhler
Tina-Marie Hoke
Jana Serebriakova
Jannik Eimen
Thomas Forkmann
Maria Strauss
Katarina Stengler
Heide Glaesmer
author_facet Lena Spangenberg
Luise Böhler
Tina-Marie Hoke
Jana Serebriakova
Jannik Eimen
Thomas Forkmann
Maria Strauss
Katarina Stengler
Heide Glaesmer
author_sort Lena Spangenberg
collection DOAJ
description Background Increasingly, studies and reviews have highlighted the potentials of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) and wearables in suicide research. However, to date it is only poorly understood how patients experience frequent assessment of suicidal ideation over weeks and months. Methods Following discharge from inpatient psychiatric care due to a suicidal crisis or suicide attempt, patients started a 21- to 24-day EMA (EMA 1) with four semi-random prompts per day. After that, participants received four prompts per day, on two randomly chosen consecutive days per week for the following 26 weeks (EMA 2). Participants were additionally given a wearable during EMA 1 and 2. Debriefings on participants’ thoughts and experiences were conducted via telephone interviews after EMA 1 (n = 68) and after EMA 2 (n = 51) using rating scales and open questions. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. Results After EMA 1, 62% of participants stated that they had experienced a change in their behavior or mood due to the study (66% in EMA 2). Different aspects were mentioned, highlighting the helpfulness of EMA (e.g. improving insight and grounding oneself) but also the burden (e.g. feeling weighed down/exhausted) and reactivity effects (e.g. feeling worse/annoyed and increased brooding). Discussion The findings illustrate positive and negative effects of EMAs over longer observation intervals in individuals at high risk of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors. These findings can help in the development of study protocols, to evaluate data quality and enhance the interpretation of EMA data.
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spelling doaj-art-01b54bf3390248c989a89949a71dfeb02025-08-20T02:34:42ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-05-011110.1177/20552076251339265Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable useLena Spangenberg0Luise Böhler1Tina-Marie Hoke2Jana Serebriakova3Jannik Eimen4Thomas Forkmann5Maria Strauss6Katarina Stengler7Heide Glaesmer8 Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department of Clinical Psychology, , Duisburg, Germany Department of Clinical Psychology, , Duisburg, Germany Department of Clinical Psychology, , Duisburg, Germany Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Helios Park Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyBackground Increasingly, studies and reviews have highlighted the potentials of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) and wearables in suicide research. However, to date it is only poorly understood how patients experience frequent assessment of suicidal ideation over weeks and months. Methods Following discharge from inpatient psychiatric care due to a suicidal crisis or suicide attempt, patients started a 21- to 24-day EMA (EMA 1) with four semi-random prompts per day. After that, participants received four prompts per day, on two randomly chosen consecutive days per week for the following 26 weeks (EMA 2). Participants were additionally given a wearable during EMA 1 and 2. Debriefings on participants’ thoughts and experiences were conducted via telephone interviews after EMA 1 (n = 68) and after EMA 2 (n = 51) using rating scales and open questions. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. Results After EMA 1, 62% of participants stated that they had experienced a change in their behavior or mood due to the study (66% in EMA 2). Different aspects were mentioned, highlighting the helpfulness of EMA (e.g. improving insight and grounding oneself) but also the burden (e.g. feeling weighed down/exhausted) and reactivity effects (e.g. feeling worse/annoyed and increased brooding). Discussion The findings illustrate positive and negative effects of EMAs over longer observation intervals in individuals at high risk of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors. These findings can help in the development of study protocols, to evaluate data quality and enhance the interpretation of EMA data.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339265
spellingShingle Lena Spangenberg
Luise Böhler
Tina-Marie Hoke
Jana Serebriakova
Jannik Eimen
Thomas Forkmann
Maria Strauss
Katarina Stengler
Heide Glaesmer
Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
Digital Health
title Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
title_full Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
title_fullStr Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
title_full_unstemmed Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
title_short Promising or discouraging? Potentials and reactivity of real-time data collection in monitoring suicide-related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months. Participants’ views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
title_sort promising or discouraging potentials and reactivity of real time data collection in monitoring suicide related thoughts and behaviors over weeks and months participants views on ecological momentary assessments and wearable use
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339265
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