Mobile Technology for Real-Life Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms as well as Stress Among Individuals With Early Psychosis: A Scoping Review.

AIM: This scoping review aimed to systematically provide an overview of existing findings on the use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and related mobile sensing to assess positive and negative symptoms, as well as stress, in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and those with first-episode psychosis (FEP).

METHODS

Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched for empirical studies published up to October 2025. Eligible studies assessed positive and negative symptoms and stress in daily life using EMA or related mobile sensing implemented on contemporary devices. Data were extracted on study characteristics, EMA design (sampling schedule, prompting logic, duration, completion rates), and domains assessed and were summarised descriptively.

RESULTS

Ten studies (14 records) met the inclusion criteria. Most used smartphone-based EMA with semi-random prompts 4-10 times daily over 6-28 days. Six assessed positive symptoms, three negative symptoms and two stress. Symptoms were all assessed through self-report EMA, while stress was assessed through self-report EMA in one study and objectively through skin conductance in one. The reporting of completion, item validity, and incentive structure was inconsistent, limiting comparability across studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-report EMA offers a feasible method for real-world assessment of symptoms and stress; however, mobile sensing remains underutilised.

IMPLICATIONS: Future research should integrate EMA and related mobile sensing, employ validated indicators and standardise reporting practises to enhance methodological transparency and clinical utility.