SHARP

Smartphone Health Assessment for Relapse Prevention in Early Psychosis 

An ongoing project (2020-2026).


The Aim of the Study:


Led by Dr. Vikram Patel (Harvard Medical School) and Dr. Anant Bhan (Sangath), in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), AIIMS Bhopal, and NIMHANS Bengaluru, SHARP adapted and evaluated LAMP (Learn, Assess, Manage, Prevent), an open-source digital mental health platform, as a scalable solution for monitoring relapse risk in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders across India and the United States.

 

SHARP team

 

The Background:


Schizophrenia is recognized by the WHO as one of the leading causes of disability in the world, with a large gap in available psychosocial interventions, especially in low- and middle- income countries. Relapse is a significant concern for individuals with schizophrenia, often occurring within five years and leading to poorer outcomes. SHARP focuses on predicting and preventing relapse to bridge the care gap. Leveraging smartphones and smartwatches, we aimed to gather real-time data on patients' symptoms, behaviors, and physiology to develop personalized relapse signals.


The Project Plan:
 

The SHARP project consists of two phases:

Phase 1: Qualitative Feedback and mindLAMP adaptation

Phase 1 involved patients, family members, and clinicians in co-designing and adapting LAMP to meet their needs and to account for contextual factors specific to each research site. Through focus groups with clinicians, patients, and their families, adaptations were made to the app to improve usability, functionality, and ensure cultural relevance across the study sites in Boston, Bengaluru, and Bhopal.

Phase 2: Observational Lamp Study

Phase 2 assessed the real-world use and effect size of the new and updated LAMP app in both predicting and preventing relapse. 150 individuals across all sites with clinical diagnoses of schizophrenia participated in Phase 2 in testing the efficacy of the app that informed the development of a digital solution that monitors the personal risk of relapse in individuals living with schizophrenia and supports timely response to potential risks using real-time and evidence-based adjunctive digital resources.


Supporters and Project Duration:
 

The SHARP initiative was generously supported by the Wellcome Trust, marking a significant period of research and development from 2020 to 2026. This project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to mental health care, leveraging digital advancements to make significant strides in the management and treatment of schizophrenia.


To read more about the project, visit: SHARP | Sangath

We collaborate on advancing the research on SHARP and its implementation with Sangath, India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India, The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, and National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), India.

 

Findings:

 

SHARP is demonstrating the feasibility of adapting an open-source digital health platform for relapse prevention across culturally diverse, low-resource settings in India and the United States. Qualitative research identified key barriers and facilitators to app use among individuals with schizophrenia, their caregivers, and clinicians. The project generated three peer-reviewed publications and contributed foundational knowledge on the implementation of digital mental health tools for serious mental illness in LMICs.

 

Next Steps:

 

Findings from this project continue to inform the development of scalable, culturally appropriate digital mental health solutions for people living with serious mental illnesses in low- and middle-income countries.

 

Publications:

 

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