Background. Mobile mood-monitoring applications are increasingly used by mental health providers, widely advocated within research, and a potentially effective method to engage young people. However, little is known about their efficacy and usability in young populations. Results. We reviewed 25 articles. Studies on the psychometric properties of mobile mood-monitoring applications were sparse, but indicate questionable to excellent internal consistency, moderate concurrent validity and good usability. Participation rates ranged from 30% to 99% across studies, and appeared to be affected by methodological factors (e.g. payments) and individual characteristics (e.g. IQ score). Mobile mood-monitoring applications are positively perceived by youth, may reduce depressive symptoms by increasing emotional awareness, and could aid in the detection of mental health and substance use problems. There was very limited evidence on potential negative impacts.Conclusions. Evidence for the use of mood-monitoring applications in youth is promising but limited due to a lack of high-quality studies. Future work should explicate the effects of mobile mood-monitoring applications on effective selfregulation, clinical outcomes across disorders and young people's engagement with mental health services. Potential negative impacts in this population should also be investigated, as the adult literature suggests that application use could potentially increase negativity and depression symptoms.

Background: Limited evidence suggests that mobile mood-monitoring can improve mental health outcomes and therapeutic engagement in young people. The aim of this mixed methods study was to explore the clinical impacts of mobile mood-monitoring in youth with mental health problems, using a publicly accessible app.Methods: Twenty-three patients with mental health problems and 24 young people without mental health problems participated in the quantitative study. Participants monitored their mood using a mood-monitoring app twice a day for 3 weeks, which was preceded by a 3-week baseline period. Outcome measures included momentary and retrospective assessments of affect regulation (all participants) and therapeutic engagement (patients only). Following the quantitative study, patients (n = 7) and their clinicians (n = 6) participated in individual interviews. Interview data was analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Use of the mood-monitoring app significantly reduced momentary negative mood (p < 0.001) and retrospectively assessed impulsivity across all 47 participants (p = 0.001). All other outcomes showed no significant difference. Qualitative feedback similarly indicated the potential of apps to improve problems with impulsivity in patients. Furthermore, apps may aid communication, promote empowerment, and ameliorate memory difficulties in clinical appointments.Conclusions: This mixed methods study demonstrated the potential utility of apps for clinical practice. Apps may potentially be an interventional tool, or at a minimum, an adjunct to existing treatments. Data was collected from a small sample size over a short study duration, limiting the generalisability of findings and inferences regarding long-term effects. Potential sources of bias in the qualitative study (e.g., researcher bias) should also be considered.

BackgroundDigital mood-monitoring technology, such as mood-monitoring applications, is increasingly advocated within clinical research and is a potentially effective method to engage and empower youth. However, limited evidence is available on this type of technology.Objectives(1) To assess the evidence for the use of mobile mood-monitoring applications in youth; (2) to explore what available smartphone application would be most suitable to monitor mood from the perspective of young people; (3) to examine whether mood-monitoring applications are useful for investigating mood instability in youth; (4) to explore the utility and acceptability of using the mood-monitoring application from young people's and clinicians’ perspectives.AimTo investigate how mood-monitoring applications can be used to support the assessment, engagement and empowerment of young people presenting to mental health services with a range of diagnoses in which mood instability forms a key component.MethodsA systematic review using a Cochrane methodology was conducted. After obtaining ethical approval, this study will also employ a mixed methods approach, through which quantitative findings (e.g., digital mood-monitoring data) will be furnished with an in-depth understanding of young people's views on digital mood-monitoring technology.ResultsFindings from a systematic review focusing on the evidence for the psychometric properties, usability and clinical impacts of applications in youth will be presented. Preliminary results from consultations groups and plans for future research will also be discussed.ConclusionsEvidence acquired through this research can potentially influence mental health policies and result in more innovative (adjunct) interventions and improved outcomes for young people with mood instability.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.