How do You Feelee? Emotion-based Smartphone App in the Forensic Outpatient Setting

How do You Feelee? Does an Ordinary Question a Day Supports Youth in a Forensic Outpatient Setting to Become More Emotional Balanced? A Multiple Case Experimental Design

This intervention study aims to explore the addition of the Feelee app (using active emoji data with passive behavioral data through phone sensing) in treatment as usual for adolescents in the forensic outpatient setting.

Participants will use Feelee for 4 weeks, which means specifying an emoji each day and collecting the passive data on the background. The collected active and passive data will be discussed through the clinicians during the participants' weekly treatment sessions.

Participants will be subjected to a ABA baseline design: including a 2-weeks baseline phase (A), 4-weeks intervention phase (B) and 2-weeks follow-up phase.

During the baseline phase (A), participants will fill in a daily questionnaire that measures different aspects of their emotion regulation skills. The use of the Feelee app is not allowed yet. After 2-weeks, the intervention phase starts, meaning participants will use the Feelee app every day during a 4-weeks period. The use of the Feelee app includes specifying an emoji and collecting the passive data on the background. Furthermore, the collected active and passive data will be discussed through the clinicians during the participants weekly treatment sessions. Participants will also be continuing to complete the daily questionnaire. After 4-weeks, the follow-up phase starts. Participants need to remove the Feelee app and will follow their treatment as usual. However, participants still need to complete the daily questionnaire. After 2-weeks the follow-up phase and main study part has ended.

Throughout the ABA baseline, pre-measurement (T0), post-measurement (T1) follow-up measurement (Tf1) will be conducted before and after the intervention and during follow-up. Last, a 3-months follow-up will be conducted to identify possible long-term effects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At the time of the study in treatment at a forensic outreach youth care organization.
• Expected to be in treatment for at least another 3 months.
• Using a smartphone with Android or IOS operating system.
• Have basic understanding about the use of a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents with serious psychiatric problems, such as psychosis or high risk of suicide
• Insufficient understanding of spoken and written Dutch language.
• Adolescents without a smartphone.