Usability of digital medicine systems in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
13 affiliations
- 1Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Research in Medicine and life Science, Keio University School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine
- 2Department of Clinical Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
- 3Department of Clinical Data Science, Clinical Research & Education Promotion Division, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Hospital
- 4Department of Healthcare Management, Kyorin University School of Medicine
- 5Department of Psychiatry, Inokashira Hospital
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Asaka Hospital
- 7Department of Psychiatry, Sakuragaoka Kinen Hospital
- 8Department of Psychiatry, Oizumi Hospital
- 9Digital Business Office, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
- 10Medical Affairs, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
- 11Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine
- 12Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine
- 13Department of Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
Abstract
Objective: To assess the usability and performance of digital medication management systems (DMS) for patients with stable ambulatory schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
Methods: This prospective, interventional study comprised a screening phase (up to 4 weeks), training phase (3 weeks: system use under the support), and independent phase (5 weeks under the minimized support) with a follow-up period of 2 weeks. Based on the DSM-5 criteria, patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, taking an atypical antipsychotic as their primary medication, and having access to a smartphone were included in this study.
Results: A total of 30 patients participated in the study. The main characteristics of the patients were as follows: age, 43.5 ± 11.4 years; male percentage, 40% (n = 12); duration of antipsychotic drug use, 14.2 ± 11.7 years; educational period, 13.3 ± 2.1 years; chlorpromazine (CP) equivalent dose, 369.6 ± 253.6 mg/day; and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), 23.6 ± 4.8. The patients applied patches with the sensor of the DMS embedded in (hereinafter, a wearable sensors) for 93.2% of the study period. The patients could apply the patch independently and successfully and synchronize it with a smartphone application that allowed them to monitor their medication intake in 15.2 ± 8.1 days (median, 9.0; interquartile range (IQR), 1.0–15.0 days after initiation). Thirty-eight adverse events that were reported in 17 patients were classified as mild or moderate, and were related to wearable sensor use.
Conclusion: It was concluded that most patients completed the task for the DMS with minimal assistance early in the study and continued to apply wearable sensors throughout the study period. Moreover, the results confirmed the feasibility of DMS in clinical practical use in stable schizophrenia.
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BibTeX
@article{kishimoto2026usability,
title = {{Usability of digital medicine systems in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder}},
author = {Taishiro Kishimoto and Harumasa Takano and Ryo Kanzaka and Hisateru Tachimori and Hideki Oi and Hiroyuki Ogino and Kyosuke Sawada and Fumiaki Kumagai and Masayuki Tomita and Iku Nakayama and Yoshiyuki Shibasaki and Toshiaki Kikuchi and Hiroyoshi Takeuchi and Kazuyuki Nakagome},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1903689},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1903689/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Usability of digital medicine systems in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
AU - Taishiro Kishimoto
AU - Harumasa Takano
AU - Ryo Kanzaka
AU - Hisateru Tachimori
AU - Hideki Oi
AU - Hiroyuki Ogino
AU - Kyosuke Sawada
AU - Fumiaki Kumagai
AU - Masayuki Tomita
AU - Iku Nakayama
AU - Yoshiyuki Shibasaki
AU - Toshiaki Kikuchi
AU - Hiroyoshi Takeuchi
AU - Kazuyuki Nakagome
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1903689
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1903689/full
AB - Objective: To assess the usability and performance of digital medication management systems (DMS) for patients with stable ambulatory schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Methods: This prospective, interventional study comprised a screening phase (up to 4 weeks), training phase (3 weeks: system use under the support), and independent phase (5 weeks under the minimized support) with a follow-up period of 2 weeks. Based on the DSM-5 criteria, patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, taking an atypical antipsychotic as their primary medication, and having access to a smartphone were included in this study. Results: A total of 30 patients participated in the study. The main characteristics of the patients were as follows: age, 43.5 ± 11.4 years; male percentage, 40% (n = 12); duration of antipsychotic drug use, 14.2 ± 11.7 years; educational period, 13.3 ± 2.1 years; chlorpromazine (CP) equivalent dose, 369.6 ± 253.6 mg/day; and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), 23.6 ± 4.8. The patients applied patches with the sensor of the DMS embedded in (hereinafter, a wearable sensors) for 93.2% of the study period. The patients could apply the patch independently and successfully and synchronize it with a smartphone application that allowed them to monitor their medication intake in 15.2 ± 8.1 days (median, 9.0; interquartile range (IQR), 1.0–15.0 days after initiation). Thirty-eight adverse events that were reported in 17 patients were classified as mild or moderate, and were related to wearable sensor use. Conclusion: It was concluded that most patients completed the task for the DMS with minimal assistance early in the study and continued to apply wearable sensors throughout the study period. Moreover, the results confirmed the feasibility of DMS in clinical practical use in stable schizophrenia.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -