Abstract
Objectives: Providing adequate access to mental health services is a global challenge. Smartphone apps offer a potentially cost-effective, available, and accessible solution for monitoring, supporting, and treating mental health conditions. This systematic review describes and evaluates the usage of smartphone apps across a wide range of mental health disorders in terms of clinical effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability.
Design: Systematic review of studies examining treatment, self-monitoring, and multipurpose smartphone apps for mental health disorders.
Data sources: Studies were identified through a comprehensive search of the Ovid and PubMed databases. Articles published up to 14 January 2024 were included based on predefined criteria.
Eligibility criteria: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that comparing mental health apps (single- or multipurpose) to treatment-as-usual or no treatment for clinical populations with mental health disorders. Studies were excluded if they focused on web-based interventions, combined apps with non-TAU treatments, or targeted physical health apps.
Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies, with a third reviewer resolving inconsistencies. Extracted data included study details, participant characteristics, app information, and outcome measures related to effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability. A risk of bias assessment for each study was conducted.
Results: Out of 4153 non-duplicate articles screened, 31 studies meeting full-text eligibility criteria. These included six studies on treatment apps, four used self-monitoring apps, and 21 on multipurpose apps for a range of mental health disorders. Fifteen were identified as having between some and high concern on the risk of bias assessment. While smartphone apps were generally effective and acceptable, their feasibility appeared to decline over time.
Conclusions: Smartphone apps are promising tools for mental health care, demonstrating effectiveness and acceptability. However, challenges such as reduced feasibility over time, potential biases, and underrepresented demographics require further research. This review proposes five recommendations for improving clinical translation in future studies.
Design: Systematic review of studies examining treatment, self-monitoring, and multipurpose smartphone apps for mental health disorders.
Data sources: Studies were identified through a comprehensive search of the Ovid and PubMed databases. Articles published up to 14 January 2024 were included based on predefined criteria.
Eligibility criteria: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that comparing mental health apps (single- or multipurpose) to treatment-as-usual or no treatment for clinical populations with mental health disorders. Studies were excluded if they focused on web-based interventions, combined apps with non-TAU treatments, or targeted physical health apps.
Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies, with a third reviewer resolving inconsistencies. Extracted data included study details, participant characteristics, app information, and outcome measures related to effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability. A risk of bias assessment for each study was conducted.
Results: Out of 4153 non-duplicate articles screened, 31 studies meeting full-text eligibility criteria. These included six studies on treatment apps, four used self-monitoring apps, and 21 on multipurpose apps for a range of mental health disorders. Fifteen were identified as having between some and high concern on the risk of bias assessment. While smartphone apps were generally effective and acceptable, their feasibility appeared to decline over time.
Conclusions: Smartphone apps are promising tools for mental health care, demonstrating effectiveness and acceptability. However, challenges such as reduced feasibility over time, potential biases, and underrepresented demographics require further research. This review proposes five recommendations for improving clinical translation in future studies.
Original language | English |
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Journal | BMJ Open |
Publication status | Published - 11 Feb 2025 |
Keywords
- Smartphone
- Mental health
- Smartphone app
- Smartphone application