New paper in JMIR Mental Health on Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs)

What is the paper about?

When is the right moment to deliver digital mental health support?

📱 We developed and piloted a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) designed to help people with depressive symptoms activate their social support networks in daily life.

The study compared two triggering approaches:

• Emotion dynamics (e.g., increases in distress)
• Self-reported support need

Findings show that interventions triggered by support need were rated as more helpful and timely than those triggered by distress dynamics.

In the paper, we also report on:

• High feasibility: 85% survey compliance, low attrition, minimal tech issues
• Barriers like time constraints and unavailable support providers remain important challenges

This pilot highlights the importance of aligning JITAI timing with participant-expressed needs, contributing to ongoing discussions about “what is just-in-time?” in JITAIs and Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs).

👉 Read the paper here