Using a smartphone app to track and understand hallucinations
Developing Data-Driven Clinical Signatures for People Who Experience Hallucinations
This project asks people who experience hallucinations to use a smartphone app for short questionnaires, audio diaries, and brief memory tasks so researchers can find patterns that signal higher risk for serious problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300999 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part you'll install a smartphone package that prompts short self-report questions, records audio diaries where you describe your hallucinations, and delivers brief spoken memory tasks you can do where you are. The study plans to enroll a large group of people who experience hallucinations and collect this information over time in everyday settings. Scientists will apply computer models to those real-world data to look for patterns linked to risk for hospitalization, emergency service use, or suicidal behavior. Most participation is done remotely on your phone, so you won't need to come into clinic for every measure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who currently experience hallucinations and who can use a smartphone to complete short tasks and audio diaries.
Not a fit: People who do not experience hallucinations or who cannot or will not use smartphone tools are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help spot people with hallucinations who are at higher risk so they can get earlier, more personalized support.
How similar studies have performed: Previous smartphone and ecological momentary assessment studies in mental health have shown promise for tracking symptoms, but applying data-driven risk signatures specifically to hallucinations is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ben-Zeev, Dror — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Ben-Zeev, Dror
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 below.