InMind - A Generic Smartphone App to Support Intersession Processes in Psychotherapy

Project lead: Markus Wolf, PhD
Project management: Nick Kabrel, MSc

As part of the InterAkt project series, we are currently developing a generic mobile app in cooperation with the Institute of Informatics at UZH to support interession activities in outpatient psychotherapy. Patients spend only a small part of their time in face-to-face sessions with their therapists, while important processes take place outside of therapy, i.e., between sessions (referred to as intersession processes and activities). Since smartphones are widespread and available 24/7, apps are a promising tool to complement psychotherapy in everyday life and to support intersession activities.

Drawing on transdiagnostic and pantheoretical concepts, the InMind app is designed to be used by a wide range of patients and across major therapy schools. The app combines a set of functions that support the patient in planned and unplanned, i.e., spontaneous, therapy-related activities and experiences. Patients can use the app to systematically record and schedule plans, tasks, or exercises, that they have been developed together with their therapist, or that they have created themselves to be applied between therapy sessions. The app also encourages reflection on unplanned therapy-related activities or experiences and allows to track symptoms or to collect information about learned strategies and resources, which supports their active use during therapy by the patient.

The development of the app follows a design science research approach. Clinical psychology and psychotherapy are at the center of the research disciplines backed by computer-as-social-actors, and persuasive technology from computer science. The performance of the developed solution is ensured through regular feedback loops from psychotherapists and patients in line with the SCRUM methodology. The InMind app is currently being evaluated together with therapists and patients.

Whom is the app designed for?

The app is designed for patients suffering from a depressive or anxiety disorder who have recently started outpatient treatment or are about to start psychotherapy.

Our partners:
Dr. Mateusz Dolata; Prof. Dr. Gerhard Schwabe; University of Zurich, Institute of Computer Science (IFI)