Daily Recording and Ambulatory Monitoring Methodologies in Behavioral Medicine

Abstract In situ monitoring methods, which yield extensive information about daily moods, events, symptoms, and physiologic processes, are particularly valuable for researchers in behavioral medicine. The history of daily experience monitoring reflects developments from several related fields. Recent technological advances have encouraged the application of such methods to the study of pathophysiologic states. A classification system for in situ methods, including examples, is provided, along with suggestions regarding the appropriate application of each method for behavioral medicine.