The power of individual landscapes:a clinical exploration of personal experience sampling and new horizons

Abstract

People who experience mental health problems often struggle to uphold their daily routine. Feeling down, for example, can drain energy, influence your social life and activity patterns. It is therefore important to be able to monitor these patterns and learn accordingly. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) is a daily diary tool that enables individuals to monitor mood, behavior and cognition on a smartphone throughout the day. The thesis aims to bridge the gap between research and mental health practice by exploring and expanding the method for individual use. Emphasized is a positive health view that moves beyond symptom reduction towards resilience and includes daily situations and cognition. ESM as a mobile health tool can enhance care by making the individual’s everyday life, where problems occur, accessible for assessment and treatment