Tracking mental health in veterans using smartphone apps
Official title: Passive Mobile Self-Tracking of Mental Health by Veterans with Serious Mental Illness
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11226561 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how smartphone apps can help veterans with serious mental health issues by keeping track of their daily habits, like how social they are, how active they are, and how well they sleep, so that any early signs of trouble can be spotted and addressed quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2024 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003129-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11226561 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with serious mental illnesses who own and use a smartphone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to smartphones or those who do not have serious mental illnesses may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on helping veterans with serious mental illnesses by using smartphone applications to passively monitor their mental health. The approach involves tracking behaviors such as sociability, activity, and sleep patterns, which can indicate changes in mental health status. By utilizing data generated from smartphones, the study aims to detect early signs of relapse and facilitate timely interventions. This method seeks to improve communication between veterans and their healthcare providers, allowing for better management of their conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health outcomes for veterans by enabling early detection of worsening symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: While passive self-tracking in serious mental illness is a relatively novel approach, there is emerging evidence suggesting that similar methods have shown promise in other areas of mental health monitoring.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Alexander S. — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Young, Alexander S.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.