Mobile Health for Caregivers of Young Adults With Early Psychosis: A Survey Study Examining User Preferences

OBJECTIVE: Caregivers play a key role in supporting the recovery of young adults with early psychosis. This role often involves considerable responsibilities and burden. Despite the considerable needs of caregivers, troubling service gaps addressing these needs remain. Digital technologies may increase caregivers' access to supportive resources; however, technologies developed specifically for caregivers lag far behind those developed for their relatives affected by early psychosis. In particular, little is known about the mobile health (mHealth) features that may be most acceptable to caregivers. METHODS: The authors surveyed a sample of 43 caregivers on their interests regarding various features of a proposed mHealth intervention. RESULTS: Caregivers of young adults with early psychosis were highly interested in a caregiver-facing mHealth intervention, specifically one providing information about psychosis, treatments, and communication with their affected family member. CONCLUSIONS: Future caregiver-focused mHealth intervention interventions may be highly acceptable to this population and may address pressing service gaps.