Digital Phenotyping Data to Predict Symptom Improvement and App Personalization: Protocol for a Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Smartphone apps that capture surveys and sensors are increasingly being leveraged to collect data on clinical conditions. In mental health, this data could be used to personalize psychiatric support offered by apps so that they are more effective and engaging. Yet today, few mental health apps offer this type of support, often because of challenges associated with accurately predicting users’ actual future mental health. OBJECTIVE: In this protocol, we present a study design to explore engagement with mental health apps in college students, using the Technology Acceptance Model as a theoretical framework, and assess the accuracy of predicting mental health changes using digital phenotyping data. METHODS: There are two main goals of this study. First, we present a logistic regression model fit on data from a prior study on college students and prospectively test this model on a new student cohort to assess its accuracy. Second, we will provide users with data-driven activity suggestions every 4 days to determine whether this type of personalization will increase engagement or attitudes toward the app compared to those receiving no personalized recommendations. RESULTS: The study was completed in the spring of 2022, and the manuscript is currently in review at JMIR Publications. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first digital phenotyping algorithms to be prospectively validated. Overall, our results will inform the potential of digital phenotyping data to serve as tailoring data in adaptive interventions and to increase rates of engagement. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/37954