Experience sampling methodology in mental health research

New insights and technical developments

Bibliographic Data

ID23360538
AuthorsInez Myin-Germeys (0000-0002-3731-4930, KU Leuven), Inez Myin‐Germeys (Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences KU Leuven Leuven Belgium), Zuzana Kasanova (0000-0002-8795-5373, KU Leuven), Thomas Vaessen (0000-0002-9300-3117, KU Leuven), Hugo Vachon (0000-0003-1259-649X, KU Leuven), Olivia J Kirtley (0000-0001-5879-4120, KU Leuven), Olivia Kirtley (Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences KU Leuven Leuven Belgium), Wolfgang Viechtbauer (0000-0003-3463-4063, Maastricht University), Ulrich Reininghaus (0000-0002-9227-5436, King's College London)
Year2018
Volume17
Issue2
Pages123-132
Publication date2018-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1723-8617 • E-ISSN: 2051-5545
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/wps.20513
PMID29856567
OpenAlexW2807006728
LanguageEN
Citations received74
References cited120

In the mental health field, there is a growing awareness that the study of psychiatric symptoms in the context of everyday life, using experience sampling methodology (ESM), may provide a powerful and necessary addition to more conventional research approaches. ESM, a structured self‐report diary technique, allows the investigation of experiences within, and in interaction with, the real‐world context. This paper provides an overview of how zooming in on the micro‐level of experience and behaviour using ESM adds new insights and additional perspectives to standard approaches. More specifically, it discusses how ESM: a) contributes to a deeper understanding of psychopathological phenomena, b) allows to capture variability over time, c) aids in identifying internal and situational determinants of variability in symptomatology, and d) enables a thorough investigation of the interaction between the person and his/her environment and of real‐life social interactions. Next to improving assessment of psychopathology and its underlying mechanisms, ESM contributes to advancing and changing clinical practice by allowing a more fine‐grained evaluation of treatment effects as well as by providing the opportunity for extending treatment beyond the clinical setting into real life with the development of ecological momentary interventions. Furthermore, this paper provides an overview of the technical details of setting up an ESM study in terms of design, questionnaire development and statistical approaches. Overall, although a number of considerations and challenges remain, ESM offers one of the best opportunities for personalized medicine in psychiatry, from both a research and a clinical perspective.

Context (archaeology) · Data science · Experience sampling method · Mental health · Perspective (graphical) · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychopathology · Situational ethics · Applied Psychology · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Functional Brain Connectivity Studies · Medicine · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology · Social Psychology