Use of a smartphone application to screen for depression and suicide in South Korea

Use of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screener in a General Hospital Setting

Specific differences between interviewer-rated and self-report suicide risk assessments are unknown. This descriptive cross-sectional study examined the acceptance of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) screener, conducted by nurse-interviewers versus self-reporting, and identified the factors contributing to refusal in each mode. We reviewed the charts of inpatients at a general hospital that included the C-SSRS screener at the time of admission. C-SSRS screening by a nurse-interviewer and self-reported mode were included. Two modes and the acceptors and refusers were compared using descriptive statistics. Multi-variate logistic regression was performed to determine associations between the studied factors and suicide risk. The study included 398 patients. The acceptance of the nurse-interview and self-report modes was 93.8% and 74.7%, respectively. Refusers for the former were more likely to be male (p = 0.029) and from the surgical departments (p < 0.001). Refusers for the latter tended to be older (p < 0.001). Compared to the nurse-interview group, the self-report group was more likely to report a high risk of suicide (odds ratio = 6.508, p = 0.041). Each mode of the C-SSRS screener, when used in general hospital inpatients, has its own advantages and disadvantages. Healthcare providers should select the mode optimal for their institutional environment after comprehensively considering the patients' characteristics and available hospital resources.

The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Suicide risk is a multifaceted phenomenon, and many risk factors are involved in its complexity. In the last few decades, mental health apps have spread, providing economic and affordable strategies to prevent suicide. Therefore, the aim of this review is to identify original studies on mobile apps that target suicidal crises. The review follows PRISMA guidelines, searching through four major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycInfo and Web of Science) for relevant titles/abstracts published from January 2010 to May 2022. It includes original studies that explicitly analyze mobile apps for suicide prevention. A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies assessed the feasibility and acceptability of mobile apps, ten studies assessed the efficacy of mobile apps in preventing suicide, and six studies described randomized control trial protocols not yet implemented. Generally, the apps were judged by participants to be acceptable and helpful, and several improvements to enhance the functionality of apps were suggested. The efficacy of mobile apps, although limited and assessed with very heterogenous methods, was confirmed by most of the studies. Mobile apps could represent a helpful supplement to traditional prevention tactics, providing real-time monitoring of at-risk persons, personalized tools to cope with suicidal crises, and immediate access to specific support.

Mobile health applications for mental illnesses: An Asian context

Advances in digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities to assess and improve health behavior and health outcomes. Evidence indicates that a majority of the world's population, including traditionally underserved populations and low- and middle-income countries, has access to mobile technologies (phones, tablets, mobile devices). Given the widespread access to mobile technology worldwide, health behavior-change tools delivered on mobile platforms enable broader reach and scalability of evidence-based assessment and interventions, especially for addressing the growing burden of mental health disorders globally. The purpose of this article was to present a qualitative review of mobile mental health applications in an Asian context. We searched on-line databases and included 22 articles in this review. We have identified mobile health applications that address eight categories of mental illnesses. These applications were developed in only six countries and regions in Asia. Future studies from more diverse countries for diverse cultures should be conducted to examine the advantages and disadvantages of mobile health technology.

Intraday weather conditions can influence self-report of depressive symptoms

The weather is arguably one of the most common topics in daily conversation. However, it is also a well-known factor in psychiatric problems worldwide such as depression, where particularly elders and females are prone to the condition. Previous studies have mostly focused on the association between long-term climate/season change and depressive symptoms to test the belief that people feel depressed when the weather is bad. Yet, little is known about the relationship between intraday weather conditions and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to decompose this association and explore age and gender differences in depressive symptoms' report under different intraday weather conditions. We analyzed data with a total sample size of 20,987 individuals aged 15-96 years obtained via the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) project in 2016. The surveyors filled in the intraday weather conditions (i.e., sunny, cloudy, overcast, light rain, moderate rain, and heavy rain) in the questionnaire with depression being self-reported using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. In the survey, 17.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 16.8%, 17.8%] individuals were assessed to have depressive symptoms (CES-D scores >15). Overcast day was the peak weather condition for depressive symptoms, while gender and age differences of depressive symptoms were biggest in the weather condition of moderate rain. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that female and middle-old age individuals were more likely to report having depressive symptoms, and people under overcast day were more likely to report having depressive symptoms compared to under sunny day [odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.11, 1.39]. This intraday weather conditions-depression link was significant in males and middle-old age individuals but not in females and youngsters.

Use of mobile apps and technologies in child and adolescent mental health: a systematic review

QUESTION

This review will aim to critically evaluate the currently available literature concerning the use of online mobile-based applications and interventions in the detection, management and maintenance of children and young people's mental health and well-being.

STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS

A systematic literature search of six electronic databases was conducted for relevant publications until May 2019, with keywords pertaining to mental health, well-being and problems, mobile or internet apps or interventions and age of the study population. The resulting titles were screened and the remaining 92 articles were assessed against the inclusion and exclusion criteria with a total of 4 studies included in the final review.

FINDINGS

In general, young people seem to engage very well with this type of tools, and they demonstrate some positive effects in emotional self-awareness. There have been some studies about this issue and many of the outcomes were notstatistically significant. However, it is still a sparsely documented area, and more research is needed in order to prove these effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health apps directed at young people have the potential to be important assessment, management and treatment tools, therefore creating easier access to health services, helping in the prevention of mental health issues and capacitating to self-help in case of need. However, a limited number of studies are currently available, and further assessments should be made in order to determine the outcomes of this type of interventions.

The suicidal behaviors questionnaire-revised. Spanish form

This study consists of a translation, intercultural adaptation and analysis of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of Suicide Behavior Questionnaire Revised using a sample of 325 undergraduates. Internal consistency, reliability and temporal stability, calculated through Cronbach's alpha (α =.81) and test-retest correlations (ICC =. 88), respectively, were excellent. The criterion-related validity of the SBQ-R was established by correlating SBQ-R with other psychological constructs. A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate fit of the measurement model. This SBQ-R Spanish adaptation is a reliable and valid tool that might be useful to researchers and clinicians wishing to identify young people at a high risk of suicide.