Implementation of an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) in Naturalistic Psychotherapy Settings: Qualitative Insights from Patients, Therapists, and Supervisors Perspectives

Abstract

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) allows measuring intra-individual processes moment by moment, identifying andmodeling, in a naturalistic way, individual levels and changes in different psychological processes. However, active EMArequires a high degree of adherence, as it implies a significant burden for patients. Moreover, there is still no consensus onstandardized procedures for implementation. There have been few results in detecting desirable characteristics for the designand implementation of an EMA device. Studies that address these issues from the perspectives of participants in psychotherapeuticprocesses are needed. To analyze the perspectives of patients, therapists and supervisors on the implementation of anEMA device in a psychotherapeutic treatment for depression. The sample will include eight patients, eleven therapists andfive supervisors, taken from a research project that implemented an EMA system for monitoring the dynamics of affectivityat the beginning of psychotherapies for depression. Semi-structured interviews specific to each group are being conductedand analyzed from a qualitative approach based on consensual qualitative research (CQR). Participants reported having apositive evaluation of the study´s informational resources and implementation. Difficulties were expressed in responding inthe morning hours and the importance of having a customized EMA that is tailored to the needs of the patients was expressed.Furthermore, patients and therapists agreed that the impact of the use of the monitoring system on treatment was neutral orpositive. In contrast, patients considered the EMA to be positive for their daily life.