VETERANS with serious mental health illness (SMI) were accepting of wearable devices that can help to monitor both physical and mental health, according to a new qualitative study.

Veterans Trial Wearable Devices for Symptom Monitoring

Fluctuating symptoms, long gaps between appointments and high rates of physical health comorbidities can make the management of SMI difficult. Mobile health technology including wearable devices, has increasingly been explored to provide continuous monitoring between clinical visits.

In this study, researchers explored the feasibility and acceptability of wearables among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 15 veterans receiving care through the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs system used wearable devices for between two weeks and one month before completing qualitative interviews about their experiences.

Patients Reported Positive Experiences with Wearable Devices

Findings suggested that participants were comfortable incorporating wearable health trackers into their daily lives and saw value in patient-generated data with healthcare providers.

The devices helped to monitor sleep, heart rate, stress and physical activity with many reporting that tracking these metrics improved their awareness of their overall wellbeing and encouraged healthier behaviours. Some patients reported motivation to become more physically active and maintain routines after monitoring sleep patterns and step counts.

Participants expressed no concerns regarding privacy, location tracking, or sharing health data with clinicians. Researchers noted that it was generally viewed that the data collected may help to support better treatment decisions.

Technical Challenges Highlighted for Long-Term Use

Understanding health data, technical challenges using partnered smartphone app, and discomfort wearing devices for extended periods were identified as some of the barriers to long-term use. Some also questioned whether wearable devices could accurately capture complex mental health symptoms, including anxiety and early relapse indicators.

It was suggested that additional technical support, improved app design, and expanded features such as medication reminders and mood tracking could improve usability in this population.

The authors concluded that wearable devices appeared feasible and acceptable for individuals with SMI, but larger studies are needed to determine whether integrating patient-generated health data into routine care can improve clinical outcomes.

Reference

Freitas AM et al. Assessing the use of wearable mobile-monitoring devices among individuals with serious mental illness: qualitative acceptability and feasibility study. J Med Internet Res. 2026;28:e85087. DOI:10.2196/85087.

Featured Image: Lomb on Adobe Stock

Author:

Jess Nicholson

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