Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41784296›Full record

ArticleBipolar disorders2026

Empowering Quality of Life Monitoring and Self-Management in Bipolar Disorder: Pilot Evaluation of the PolarUs App.

Erin E Michalak, Emma E Morton, Denny Meyer, Greg Murray, Heather L O Brien, Steven J Barnes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Bipolar disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Erin E MichalakDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0812-6527
Emma E MortonSchool of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6179-1983
Denny MeyerCentre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Greg MurrayCentre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Heather L O BrienSchool of Information, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4780-2505
Steven J BarnesDepartment of Psychology, Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Funding

CIHR 201903
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSmartphone apps facilitate the dissemination of resources to help people with bipolar disorder (BD) implement self-management strategies. However, current apps do not address all treatment outcomes valued by people with BD, nor are they designed with scalability in mind. This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an alpha version of the co-designed PolarUs app, a self-guided intervention developed to support quality of life (QoL) self-monitoring and self-management in BD.

methodsNorth American residents with a confirmed diagnosis of BD used the iOS PolarUs app for 12 weeks. To assess feasibility, adherence rates were assessed, operationalized by completion of weekly in-app Brief Quality of Life in BD (QoL.BD) scores. Linear mixed modeling was used to test the hypothesis that QoL (primary outcome) would improve over the intervention period and explore secondary outcomes (i.e., mood symptoms, self-efficacy, subjective recovery, self-compassion). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to investigate associations between app adherence and primary outcomes.

resultsIn 170 participants (70% women, mean age 39 years SD = 12.1) there was a steady decline in app adherence over the intervention period, with 37% of participants completing their final weekly assessment. However, significant improvements were observed overall for QoL, mood symptoms, and self-compassion. Four distinct app adherence clusters were observed, displaying varying relationships with baseline QoL and trajectories of QoL improvement.

conclusionsPreliminary adherence and efficacy data for the PolarUs app are positive and demonstrate how the inclusion of lived experience perspectives in app development supports intervention acceptability and impact.

Indexed as

Bipolar DisorderEmpowermentMobile ApplicationsQuality of LifeSelf-ManagementAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsSelf Efficacybipolar disordereHealthengagementmHealthmobile healthself‐management

Identifiers

PMID41784296
PMCPMC12961918

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.