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Ecological Momentary Assessment and Mood Disorders in Children and Adolescents: a Systematic Review

  • Mood Disorders (E Baca-Garcia, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim of the present review is to systematically examine published data regarding ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in children and adolescents with mood disorders.

Recent Findings

EMA is increasingly used to collect participant’s information in their real environment and in real time. There are multiple studies focused on the evaluation of mood disorders in children and adolescents, but only a few of them used EMA protocols.

Summary

Results found in this review showed a wide variability of works with different fields of study, methodological approaches, and EMA protocols. More than 60% of EMA studies in children and adolescents with mood disorders were conducted via phone call, showing high completion rates with data missing in 5 to 11.5% of the calls. Length of studies varied from a 4-day EMA protocol to a maximum of 8 weeks. Positive and negative affect, daily activities, and social context were the main EMA measures. Despite the limited number of studies using EMA in children and adolescents with mood disorders, EMA was useful in assessing mood symptoms in the moment and in patients’ real-life environment. Studies also showed high completion and satisfaction rates. Although web pages and apps use have been increasing over the past years, the evidence base is still scarce. Future studies can facilitate understanding of EMA methodology among youth with mood disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Gregorio Marañón General University Hospital, C/ Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain

    Itziar Baltasar-Tello & Juan J. Carballo

  2. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Jiménez Díaz Foundation, Madrid, Spain

    Carolina Miguélez-Fernández & Inmaculada Peñuelas-Calvo

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  1. Itziar Baltasar-Tello
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  2. Carolina Miguélez-Fernández
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  3. Inmaculada Peñuelas-Calvo
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  4. Juan J. Carballo
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Correspondence to Itziar Baltasar-Tello.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mood Disorders

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Baltasar-Tello, I., Miguélez-Fernández, C., Peñuelas-Calvo, I. et al. Ecological Momentary Assessment and Mood Disorders in Children and Adolescents: a Systematic Review. Curr Psychiatry Rep 20, 66 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0913-z

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