ESMvis: a tool for visualizing individual Experience Sampling Method (ESM) data

Abstract

Purpose The experience sampling method (ESM) is used for intensive longitudinal time-series data collection during normal daily life. ESM data give information on momentary affect, activities and (social) context of, for example, patients suffering from mental disorders, and allows for person-specific feedback reports. However, current personalized feedback reports only display a selection of measured variables, and typically involve only summary statistics, thus not reflecting the dynamic fluctuations in affect and its influencing factors. To address this shortcoming, we developed a tool for dynamically visualizing ESM data. Methods We introduce a new framework, ESMvis, for giving descriptive feedback, focusing on direct visualization of the dynamic nature of raw data. In this ESM feedback approach, raw ESM data are visualized using R software. We applied ESMvis to data collected for over 52 weeks on a patient diagnosed with an obsessive–compulsive disorder with comorbid depression. Results We provided personalized feedback, in which both the overall trajectory and specific time moments were captured in a movie format. Two relapses during the study period could be visually determined, and subsequently confirmed by the therapist. The therapist and patient evaluated ESMvis as an insightful add-on tool to care-as-usual. Conclusion ESMvis is a showcase on providing personalized feedback by dynamic visualization of ESM time-series data. Our tool is freely available and adjustable, making it widely applicable. In addition to potential applications in clinical practice, ESMvis can work as an exploratory tool that can lead to new hypotheses and inform more complex statistical techniques.

Some socially poor but also some socially rich adolescents feel closer to their friends after using social media

“…We therefore need to examine how we can implement the person-specific results of this study into eHealth applications to provide adolescents and their parents insight in whether and why social media use makes them socially richer or poorer 37 , 38 . Such personalized feedback based on ESM data has already been successfully implemented in clinical settings and, despite the increased burden, both therapists and patients evaluate it as an insightful addition to the usual care 39 .…”

A Web-Based Application for Personalized Ecological Momentary Assessment in Psychiatric Care: User-Centered Development of the PETRA Application

“…The second step concerns further scientific validation of the EMA items [ 113 , 114 ] and the development of more innovative EMA feedback. Such endeavors should explore more descriptive visualizations [ 115 ] and further develop statistical methods to analyze EMA data. Previous publications on EMA have often highlighted the potential of person-specific statistical models for informing treatment.…”

A Web-Based Application for Personalized Ecological Momentary Assessment in Psychiatric Care: User-Centered Development of the PETRA Application

“…Future research should explore the possibilities of descriptive feedback (see e.g., 89 ) as well as further develop statistical methods to analyze EMA data. Previous publications on EMA have often highlighted the promise of person-specific statistical models in informing treatment.…”