Conclusions  Electronic self-monitoring of mood in depression appears to be a valid measure of mood in contrast to self-monitoring of mood in mania .
Background Various paper-based mood charting instruments are used in the monitoring of symptoms in bipolar disorder .
During recent years an increasing number of electronic self-monitoring tools have been developed .
The objectives of this systematic review were 1 ) to evaluate the validity of electronic self-monitoring tools as a method of evaluating mood compared to clinical rating scales for depression and mania and 2 ) to investigate the effect of electronic self-monitoring tools on clinical ly relevant outcomes in bipolar disorder .
There are yet few studies on the effect of  electronic self-monitoring of mood  in bipolar disorder .
Subsyndromal symptoms assessed in longitudinal, prospective follow-up of a cohort of patients with bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND Many patients with bipolar disorder ( BD ) do not regain full function following an acute illness episode , but the extent to which this impairment is the result of persistent symptoms has not been well established . This study examined factors associated with persistent subsyndromal symptoms in a well characterized group of BD patients who were prospect ively followed for an average of 3 years . METHODS Detailed life charting data from 138 patients with BD were review ed . Patients were categorized into euthymic , subsyndromal or syndromal groups according to the clinical state during their most recent year of follow-up . The three groups were then examined with respect to comorbidity , function and treatment received . RESULTS Patients with subsyndromal symptoms had high rates of comorbid anxiety disorders , and were more likely to have increased rates of eating disorders as well . Patients with subsyndromal symptoms had lower global assessment of function ( GAF ) scores than euthymic patients , and had as many clinic contacts and medication trials as patients with full episodes of illness . CONCLUSIONS Persistent subsyndromal symptoms in BD patients are associated with high rates of comorbidity that is important to recognize and treat in order to optimize mood and functioning
Conclusions  Electronic self-monitoring of mood in depression appears to be a valid measure of mood in contrast to self-monitoring of mood in mania .
Background Various paper-based mood charting instruments are used in the monitoring of symptoms in bipolar disorder .
During recent years an increasing number of electronic self-monitoring tools have been developed .
The objectives of this systematic review were 1 ) to evaluate the validity of electronic self-monitoring tools as a method of evaluating mood compared to clinical rating scales for depression and mania and 2 ) to investigate the effect of electronic self-monitoring tools on clinical ly relevant outcomes in bipolar disorder .
There are yet few studies on the effect of  electronic self-monitoring of mood  in bipolar disorder .