Electronic technology and advances in assessment of outcomes

This chapter provides an introduction in experience sampling methods (ESM) and illustrates its valuable contribution to traditional methods assessing quality of life in schizophrenia. Despite its dynamic nature and interactions with daily life, quality of life is usually measured with retrospective self-report questionnaires or interviews in a clinical setting. Disadvantageous to this approach is that the ecological validity of traditional questionnaires is limited and the reliability of retrospective assessment methods can be questioned. Experience sampling methods allow studying patients’ experiences in their daily life. By assessing positive and negative affect in real time, it provides additional valuable knowledge concerning real-life influences and fluctuations in subjective well-being. During a week, on multiple times a day, patients respond to a signal, by filling out questionnaires regarding their mood, thoughts, and context. Electronic technology facilitates the usability of ESM by offering the signals as well as the data collection on the same pocket-size device. ESM outcomes provide valuable insights at both individuals as group level and are therefore a useful addition to traditional assessment methods, for both research and treatment purposes in schizophrenia.