EMIcompass - a novel, accessible, transdiagnostic ecological momentary intervention for enhancing emotional resilience to stress in help-seeking youth

Purpose Most mental disorders first emerge in youth or adolescence and contribute to the global burden of disease. Elevated stress sensitivity is one of the most widely studied psychological mechanisms underlying the development of mental health problems. Thus, targeting stress sensitivity in youth is a promising translational strategy for preventing adverse outcomes later in life. Recent advances in digital mental health provide a unique opportunity to deliver Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) that are tailored to individuals in a given moment in daily life. The EMIcompass pilot study aimed to investigate the acceptability, feasibility and initial therapeutic effects of a transdiagnostic EMI for enhancing emotional resilience to stress in youth.

Methods In an uncontrolled phase I pilot study, help-seeking youth aged 14-25 years were recruited. The intervention period comprised face-to-face sessions as well as daily exercises using a smartphone app over the course of 3 weeks. Stress sensitivity was assessed over a 6-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) period and clinical outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention and at 4-week follow-up.

Results Most participants reported to be satisfied with EMIcompass (80%) and the burden associated with app usage was perceived to be low. Stress sensitivity was reduced at post-intervention (B = -0.23, 95% CI = [-0.32 - -0.15], p < .001) as well as at 4-week follow-up (B = -0.22, 95% CI = [-0.29 - - 0.15], p < .001). Further, we found a reduction in clinical symptoms at 4-week follow-up.

Conclusions Findings from this pilot study provide initial evidence on the acceptability, feasibility and therapeutic effects of the EMIcompass intervention for help-seeking youth. An important next step will be to investigate the efficacy of this intervention in a randomized controlled trial.

Publication History

Article published online:
02 September 2021