A free, mobile version of the M-3 Checklist has been released by the leading website for mental health screening, Mymoodmonitor.com, thus providing a scientifically validated screen for mood and anxiety disorders. Available in Apple App store, the mobile version called depressioncheck is adapted from its existing mymoodmonitor website and offers a simple, easy-to-use checklist that takes approximately three minutes to complete.
Valued by most college and military populations, the screen is validated with its accuracy confirmed in the March 2010 Annals of Family Medicine.
With over millions diagnosed for mood or anxiety disorder, less than half of these Americans receive help for their condition due to the lack of a single, simple and reliable screen that can assess the presence of the mood and anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and PTSD. Using the Depressioncheck symptom checklist, user can answer short series of questions that touch on indicators of mental health to rate his or her mood.
In a press release, Robert M. Post, M.D., director of the Bipolar Collaborative Network, said, “The Depressioncheck app is an extremely powerful and efficient way of distributing the M-3 Checklist screen. By going mobile, we can get this researched based screen in the hands of individuals who can take the screen whenever it is convenient for them. When significant symptoms are uncovered, the user receives important confirmation that his or her suffering is not somehow self-imposed, and that there are options to help improve the situation.”
In the year 2009, the University of North Carolina Medical School conducted a research to demonstrate the screen’s sensitivity to identify treatable cases that are often ignored including most milder, overlapping conditions such as mixed depression and anxiety. Moreover, the app also helps distinguish between regular and bipolar anxiety, thus avoiding mistreatment with potentially serious consequences. User can also make use of the customized report comprising of risk and severity ratings to avail appropriate treatment such as therapy or medication.
Furthermore, Depressioncheck app also provides a direct, one-button link to Mental Health America’s National Suicide Hotline for those in distress with suicidal tendencies. The dynamics of healthcare delivery can be greatly improved by deploying such interactive applications that provide validated real-time medical assessment and feedback. iPhone (telephone and data) and iPod Touch (data only) users can take advantage of the depressioncheck app through the Apple applications.
Carolyn John is a Contributor to HealthTechZone. To read more of her articles, please columnist page.Edited by
Jaclyn Allard
