Patient-centered design of an e-Mental health app

Abstract

Clinically diagnosed patients who suffer psychological illnesses are usually well supported during ambulatory treatments. Once back in their personal environment, the likelihood increases for them to relapse into past conscious or subconscious habitual patterns. The key to a successful and long-lasting medical attendance is regarded as an individually tailored and constantly available support. In this respect, an e-Mental Health app, acting as a constant companion, is envisaged to support an ongoing personal treatment of a patient during or after an ambulatory treatment. As part of the “mindtastic” project, the app “mindtastic Phoenix” is being created in a cooperation between the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg’s Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, the related information technology department and the service design company LINC Interactionarchitects. This paper describes the design process of this e-Mental Health app and highlights the deviations from the design process of conventional apps.