Cited by 208Mental Health Research TopicsMental Health via WritingDigital Mental Health Interventions

Use of the experience sampling method in the context of clinical trials

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Verhagen, Simone J W, Hasmi, Laila, Drukker, Marjan, van Os, J, Delespaul, Philippe A E G·2016·Evidence Based Mental Health

Abstract

Objective: The experience sampling method (ESM) is a structured diary technique to appraise subjective experiences in daily life. It is applied in psychiatric patients, as well as in patients with somatic illness. Despite the potential of ESM assessment, the improved logistics and its increased administration in research, its use in clinical trials remains limited. This paper introduces ESM for clinical trials in psychiatry and beyond. Methods: ESM is an ecologically valid method that yields a comprehensive view of an individual's daily life. It allows the assessment of various constructs (eg, quality of life, psychopathology) and psychological mechanisms (eg, stress-sensitivity, coping). These constructs are difficult to assess using cross-sectional questionnaires. ESM can be applied in treatment monitoring, as an ecological momentary intervention, in clinical trials, or in single case clinical trials. Technological advances (eg, smartphone applications) make its implementation easier. Results: Advantages of ESM are highlighted and disadvantages are discussed. Furthermore, the ecological nature of ESM data and its consequences are explored, including the potential pitfalls of ambiguously formulated research questions and the specificities of ESM in statistical analyses. The last section focuses on ESM in relation to clinical trials and discusses its future use in optimising clinical decision-making. Conclusions: ESM can be a valuable asset in clinical trial research and should be used more often to study the benefits of treatment in psychiatry and somatic health.

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Authors
Verhagen, S. J. W., Hasmi, L., Drukker, M., van Os, J., & Delespaul, P. A. E. G.
Affiliations
  • Maastricht University (NL)
  • Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Corresponding author
Delespaul, Philippe A E G
Venue
Evidence Based Mental Health
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2016-07-21
Volume
19
Issue
3
Pages
86-89
ISSN
  • 1362-0347 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-960X
OpenAlex
W2502392261
Cited by
208
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 1
FWCI
20.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Evidence-Based Mental Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • DSpace (Open University in the Netherlands) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
ecological momentary assessment, clinical trials, everyday experience, treatment monitoring, ecological momentary intervention, mobile application, psychopathology, quality of life, coping, stress sensitivity, clinical decision-making
MeSH terms
Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Psychiatry, Surveys and Questionnaires, Research Design, Sampling Studies

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