What is Depressed Mood?
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ACT iCoach is an app that uses the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to provide users with tools to help with mindfulness and mood. ACT iCoach offers video lessons, mood tracking, emotion tracking, and journaling. The Daily Checkin is to be completed once a day and has the user record mood and emotions, journal, and do ACT measures. In the Daily Checkin users record how they feel as well as the level of emotions that are making them feel that way. Then users record ACT measures by recording their levels of suffering, struggle, workability, and valued action. Finally, the user completes a journal entry, and finishes the Daily CheckIn. Other features of ACT iCoach include gratitude checkins, reflections, breathing exercises, and meditations. Additionally, ACT iCoach can be integrated with a clinician app to share progress with a physical clinician. ACT iCoach offers some free features but does require a $9.99 per month subscription for full access.
Available for: iPhone Requires iOS 11.0 or later; Android 5.0 and up
Developer: Resiliens Inc.
Type of Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Principles, Connect to a Peer, Connect to a Provider, Mindfulness, Symptom Tracking/Self-Monitoring
Targeted Conditions: Mood Disorders, Stress and Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Target Audience: Not Specified
Designed to be used in conjunction with a professional? No
Languages Available: English
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Get it on: Apple App Store, Google Play
A 2021 study looked at feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes for the use of ACT iCoach for undergraduates with disordered eating. Two participants were randomly assigned either the intervention condition (ACT iCoach use for three weeks) or the waitlist condition (waiting three weeks before using the app). Participants gave favorable ratings on system usability. According to the multidimensional psychological inventory, both participants increased their psychological flexibility. However, contrary to predictions, both participants reported increases in disordered eating. ACT iCoach was determined to merit further research.
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