BreatheWell: Developing a Stress Management App on Wearables for TBI & PTSD

Hundreds of thousands of United States military service men and women have returned home from recent conflicts with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in debilitating stress and anxiety. Slow, deep, diaphragmatic breathing is commonly prescribed by healthcare providers as an intervention strategy for emotion regulation and stress management. However, due to the cognitive ramifications of prolonged stress and TBI, people living with PTSD and TBI often find it challenging to learn the technique, remember to practice it and recognize when to use it. This article describes the development and initial user-testing of BreatheWell, an app designed for wearable technology aimed at assisting military service members with PTSD and TBI to manage stress, although the target user population could be expanded to other populations that would benefit from stress management and cognitive aids. BreatheWell was developed for Google Glass and for Android Wear smartwatches to remind users to initiate daily practice of relaxation breathing and provide support for pacing inhalation and exhalation. Development efforts were based on user-centered design principles. Information about service members' attitudes towards these emerging technologies was gained in the process. Future directions include development of a biosensor cueing system.