In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis

Introduction: Depression is highly prevalent and causes considerable suffering and disease burden despite the existence of wide-ranging treatment options. Momentary assessment is a promising tool in the management of psychiatric disorders, and particularly depression. It allows for a real-time evalu...

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Autores principales:	Stephane Mouchabac, Redwan Maatoug, Ismael Conejero, Vladimir Adrien, Olivier Bonnot, Bruno Millet, Florian Ferreri, Alexis Bourla
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	dopamine digital phenotype EMI EMA depression Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/948a59dc565b4a9b8108bc9038ac7a93
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:948a59dc565b4a9b8108bc9038ac7a932021-11-25T16:57:43ZIn Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis10.3390/brainsci111114542076-3425https://doaj.org/article/948a59dc565b4a9b8108bc9038ac7a932021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1454https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3425Introduction: Depression is highly prevalent and causes considerable suffering and disease burden despite the existence of wide-ranging treatment options. Momentary assessment is a promising tool in the management of psychiatric disorders, and particularly depression. It allows for a real-time evaluation of symptoms and an earlier detection of relapse or treatment efficacy. Treating the motivational and hedonic aspects of depression is a key target reported in the literature, but it is time-consuming in terms of human resources. Digital Applications offer a major opportunity to indirectly regulate impaired motivational circuits through dopaminergic pathways. Objective: The main objective of this review was twofold: (1) propose a conceptual and critical review of the literature regarding the theoretical and technical principles of digital applications focused on motivation in depression, activating dopamine, and (2) suggest recommendations on the relevance of using these tools and their potential place in the treatment of depression. Material and Methods: A search for words related to “dopamine”, “depression”, “smartphone apps”, “digital phenotype” has been conducted on PubMed. Results: Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) differ from traditional treatments by providing relevant, useful intervention strategies in the context of people’s daily lives. EMIs triggered by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) are called “Smart-EMI”. Smart-EMIs can mimic the “dopamine reward system” if the intervention is tailored for motivation or hedonic enhancement, and it has been shown that a simple reward (such as a digital badge) can increase motivation. Discussion: The various studies presented support the potential interest of digital health in effectively motivating depressed patients to adopt therapeutic activation behaviors. Finding effective ways to integrate EMIs with human-provided therapeutic support may ultimately yield the most efficient and effective intervention method. This approach could be a helpful tool to increase adherence and motivation. Conclusion: Smartphone apps can motivate depressed patients by enhancing dopamine, offering the opportunity to enhance motivation and behavioral changes, although longer term studies are still needed.Stephane MouchabacRedwan MaatougIsmael ConejeroVladimir AdrienOlivier BonnotBruno MilletFlorian FerreriAlexis BourlaMDPI AGarticledopaminedigital phenotypeEMIEMAdepressionNeurosciences. Biological psychiatry. NeuropsychiatryRC321-571ENBrain Sciences, Vol 11, Iss 1454, p 1454 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	dopamine digital phenotype EMI EMA depression Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571
spellingShingle	dopamine digital phenotype EMI EMA depression Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Stephane Mouchabac Redwan Maatoug Ismael Conejero Vladimir Adrien Olivier Bonnot Bruno Millet Florian Ferreri Alexis Bourla In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis
description	Introduction: Depression is highly prevalent and causes considerable suffering and disease burden despite the existence of wide-ranging treatment options. Momentary assessment is a promising tool in the management of psychiatric disorders, and particularly depression. It allows for a real-time evaluation of symptoms and an earlier detection of relapse or treatment efficacy. Treating the motivational and hedonic aspects of depression is a key target reported in the literature, but it is time-consuming in terms of human resources. Digital Applications offer a major opportunity to indirectly regulate impaired motivational circuits through dopaminergic pathways. Objective: The main objective of this review was twofold: (1) propose a conceptual and critical review of the literature regarding the theoretical and technical principles of digital applications focused on motivation in depression, activating dopamine, and (2) suggest recommendations on the relevance of using these tools and their potential place in the treatment of depression. Material and Methods: A search for words related to “dopamine”, “depression”, “smartphone apps”, “digital phenotype” has been conducted on PubMed. Results: Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) differ from traditional treatments by providing relevant, useful intervention strategies in the context of people’s daily lives. EMIs triggered by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) are called “Smart-EMI”. Smart-EMIs can mimic the “dopamine reward system” if the intervention is tailored for motivation or hedonic enhancement, and it has been shown that a simple reward (such as a digital badge) can increase motivation. Discussion: The various studies presented support the potential interest of digital health in effectively motivating depressed patients to adopt therapeutic activation behaviors. Finding effective ways to integrate EMIs with human-provided therapeutic support may ultimately yield the most efficient and effective intervention method. This approach could be a helpful tool to increase adherence and motivation. Conclusion: Smartphone apps can motivate depressed patients by enhancing dopamine, offering the opportunity to enhance motivation and behavioral changes, although longer term studies are still needed.
format	article
author	Stephane Mouchabac Redwan Maatoug Ismael Conejero Vladimir Adrien Olivier Bonnot Bruno Millet Florian Ferreri Alexis Bourla
author_facet	Stephane Mouchabac Redwan Maatoug Ismael Conejero Vladimir Adrien Olivier Bonnot Bruno Millet Florian Ferreri Alexis Bourla
author_sort	Stephane Mouchabac
title	In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis
title_short	In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis
title_full	In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis
title_fullStr	In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis
title_full_unstemmed	In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis
title_sort	in search of digital dopamine: how apps can motivate depressed patients, a review and conceptual analysis
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/948a59dc565b4a9b8108bc9038ac7a93
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In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis

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