Rhapsody Mobile App in Improving Depression of Schizophrenic Patients

Technological advancements have created a platform to integrate communication and the acquisition of information and other resources. The development and application of mobile apps are currently being used to manage and treat individuals diagnosed with mental illness. “Psychotherapy applications tailored to meet the needs of those diagnosed with schizophrenia could provide individualized, immediate, and cost-effective interventions, using convenient devices that are steadily becoming more affordable” (Chambliss & Kontostatis, 2014, p. 8). Mobile applications, such as Rhapsody has been used by patients with schizophrenia to listen to music as a form of music therapy to help alleviate symptoms of depression that are associated with their mental health and well-being.

According to researchers at the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center in Lebanon, mental health apps have the potential to research a wide number of users. In an expanding digital era, individuals who lack the resources to allot them the opportunity to afford a personal computer and Internet services typically have a smartphone with internet capability (Faiella, 2013, p. 3). More than 72% of individuals diagnosed with a severe mental illness actually have a mobile phone (Faielle, 2013, p. 3). Dr. John Kane, a psychiatry professor who currently directs the Advanced Center for Interventions and Services Research in Schizophrenia, revealed that mobile health apps have become an emerging field within health care. Based on data collected from the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1 in every 100 Americans are diagnosed with schizophrenia (Faielle, 2013, p.3). Therefore, management of mental health has become easily available and accessible by more and more individuals.

The Rhapsody mobile app provides unlimited music with an unlimited number of listening possibilities. Rhapsody has an extremely large catalog consisting of millions of artists, albums, and songs, which allows users to create playlists of their favorite songs, stream music, or download music accordingly (Rhapsody, 2014). Rhapsody’s “Think it. Play it. Feel it. Listen to music like never before” motto allows individuals with schizophrenia to play the songs they want from any location with Rhapsody’s mobile app (Rhapsody, 2014). Following the launch of Orion Health Mobile App, the release of Rhapsody Mobile involves the acknowledgement and review of schizophrenic patient data via smartphones and “Orion Health Mobile Enablement Platform, which aids the development of custom mobile applications that facilitate enhanced patient care (Orion Health, 2013, p. 4).

Although the costs associated with creating a mobile app such as Rhapsody are costly, the fact that Rhapsody reaches millions and millions of people with schizophrenia makes the cost to each individual more affordable. Rhapsody Mobile for Android smartphones and iOS is free of charge (Orion Health, 2013, p. 4). Furthermore, the Rhapsody Premier mobile app offers new members a 30-day free trial. Following the trial period users will be required to pay $9.99 a month (Rhapsody, 2014). The Rhapsody mobile app is compatible with iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.

Another psychotherapeutic app released in April 2013, TherAPPist, is considered an adjunct to the traditional form of therapy. TherAPPist was constructed to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of conventional psychopharmacologic medication and psychotherapeutic intervention (Chambliss & Kontostatis, 2014, p. 8). The TherAPPist mobile app creates a relaxing routine with positive stimuli geared toward refocusing behaviors that have been monitored following meticulous assessment of customizable images and audio and its outcomes (Chambliss & Kontostatis, 2014, p. 8). This app enhances outcomes for patients with schizophrenia by developing mechanisms which enable schizophrenic individuals to better cope with mood and symptoms of the disorder including depression.

References

Chambliss, C. & Kontostathis, A. (2014). Using mobile technology to enhance psychotherapy for treatment of schizophrenia: A feasibility study. Avestia, 2(1), 8-17.

Faiella, Liz. (2013). Doctors look to phone apps to treat mental health. New Hampshire News. Retrieved from http://m.nhpr.org/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com %2F#mobile/37670

Orion health’s new rhapsody mobile apps enable healthcare IT staff to review and act on system alerts and messages through their smartphones. (2013). Orion Health. http://www.busi nesswire.com/news/home/20130304005990/en/Orion-Health’s-Rhapsody-Mobile-Apps-Enable-Healthcare#.UzKNcY29LCR

Rhapsody. (2014). Rhapsody International. Retrieved from http://www.rhapsody.com/start