Feasibility and validity of computerized ecological momentary assessment in schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Computerized Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMAc) techniques permit the assessment of daily life behaviors and experiences. The present investigation examined the feasibility and validity of this assessment methodology in outpatients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (n = 54) received a battery of standard laboratory clinical and functional outcome measures and then completed electronic questionnaires on a personal digital assistant (PDA) microcomputer 4 times per day for 1 week.


RESULTS
Generally good compliance (87%) with EMAc was found, and participants rated their experience with the study positively. The data collected in daily life demonstrated expected patterns across the assessment week and were significantly associated with scores from standard laboratory instruments measuring similar constructs.


CONCLUSIONS
EMAc is a feasible and valid approach to data collection in community-dwelling people with schizophrenia, and it may provide important information that is inaccessible via standard clinical and functional outcome measures administered in the laboratory.
Granholm
Eric
E
Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (116B), San Diego, CA 92161, USA. egranholm@ucsd.edu
Loh
Catherine
C
Swendsen
Joel
J
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed