Integrating ambulatory assessment data into clinical practice: Perspectives on interpretation and implementation

Objective: Naturalistic, personalized, ambulatory assessment (AA) data collected using smartphones or other health-tracking devices provides unparalleled opportunities for clinicians to assess symptoms, experiences, and therapy processes outside of session, ultimately strengthening the precision of clinical assessment and facilitating the delivery of increasingly personalized and adaptive (digital) interventions. However, there is relatively little clinician-friendly guidance to support the interpretation or implementation of AA data in psychotherapy. As clinical researchers and practicing psychologists, we aim to outline how AA data can be used collaboratively between clients and clinicians. Method: We describe a case example involving the collection of self-reported AA data, then explain the challenges with interpreting and implementing AA data for clinical care. Results: We discuss implementation-related barriers and provide recommendations for clinicians and those working in applied settings who are interested in integrating AA into their practice. For example, we recommend clinicians use a co-define client-centered variables and outcomes of interest, particularly a reporting period timeframe and a threshold at which change could be considered clinically meaningful. Conclusion: We encourage the formation of research-practice partnerships between clinical researchers and clinicians to address barriers at the