Measurement in an on-demand virtual mental health system: a review and viewpoint (Preprint)

Abstract

UNSTRUCTURED Mental health is a growing public health priority in the United States and globally. Measurement-based care (MBC) has been shown to improve outcomes in clinical care, yet there are significant challenges to implementation. New technologies offer opportunities to address these obstacles and to measure new and existing constructs at a scale that was previously not possible. This paper aims to summarize existing literature on MBC, focusing on mental health and digital health. Specifically, we describe a case example called Ginger, a novel on-demand virtual system for delivering mental health services, and demonstrate how this platform aligns with core principles of MBC in mental health based on existing frameworks and findings from the literature. Additionally, we integrate feedback from multidisciplinary stakeholders (clinical practitioners, data science, product development and management, and research) to develop a perspective on key tenets of measurement in this system. To navigate the challenges of translating traditional measurement tools into new technologies in addition to developing new measurements, this multidisciplinary perspective is required. Ultimately, this will enhance our understanding of mental health and ability to develop interventions to improve outcomes.