York U Researchers To Look For Patterns In Patient Data From ManagingLife's Pain Diary App

TORONTO, May 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A digital journal of pain occurrences maintained by the users of an innovative app, Manage My Pain, will be the key source for their upcoming study, say York University psychology researchers. The app's developer ManagingLife will provide the large database to York U in this collaborative effort.

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ManagingLife created the app, Manage My Pain, with an aim to improve doctor-patient communication. However, the researchers believe the data could help shape future treatments of pain.

"These patient-reported outcomes will help us reveal previously unexplored patterns in pain, both in terms of intensity and the number of occurrences," says Professor Joel Katz, Canada Research Chair in Health Psychology at York U. "Most chronic pain studies involve hundreds of participants but thanks to this app, we have several thousands of patients' data to work with including hundreds of thousands of data points."

The analysis will be done at York U's Human Pain Mechanisms Lab, where Katz is the principal investigator. The lab has published numerous studies about the psychological, emotional, and biomedical factors involved in acute and chronic pain that affect approximately 20 per cent of the Canadian population.

"I am very excited that ManagingLife will work with lead researchers at York University like Dr. Katz in this project," says Tahir Janmohamed, CEO of the mobile technology firm.  "I strongly believe that empowering patients to record their pain issues themselves, we would be able to unlock invaluable insights to help drive research for better treatment of chronic pain."

About ManagingLife

ManagingLife is a privately held Corporation based in Toronto, Canada that develops mobile tools to help chronic pain sufferers and practitioners learn more about their condition and better communicate with each other.  With its award-winning app, Manage My Pain, ManagingLife also works with institutions to support clinical trials, patient intake and treatment operations, population management, and research.

About York University

York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U's unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets them apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U's 11 faculties and 25 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 280 leading universities worldwide. York U's community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 275,000 alumni.

Media Contacts: 

Michelle Bashir, VP Relations, 416 910 3950, Email

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 22094, Email

SOURCE ManagingLife