Purpose: We developed a smartphone application (App; EMOTEO: emotion-meteo [weather forecast]) to help borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients to monitor and regulate their inner tension. The App proposes targeted mindfulness-based exercises.
Design and methods: We assessed the usability and efficiency of this App for monitoring and reduction of aversive tension in 16 BPD participants over a 6-month period.
Findings: We recorded a mean of 318.1 sessions (SD = 166.7) per participants, with a high level of satisfaction. There was a significant decrease in aversive tension (p < .05) and the App was mainly used around 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Practice implications: EMOTEO was user-friendly and efficient in reducing aversive tension in BPD patients.
Keywords: Aversive tension; borderline personality disorder; dialectical behavioral therapy; emotional dysregulation; smartphone application.
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