Smartphone apps for mental health: systematic review of the literature and five recommendations for clinical translation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Smartphone apps for mental health

T2 - systematic review of the literature and five recommendations for clinical translation

AU - Almuqrin, Aljawharah

AU - Hammoud, Ryan

AU - Terbagou, Ilham

AU - Tognin, Stefania

AU - Mechelli, Andrea

N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.

PY - 2025/2/11

Y1 - 2025/2/11

N2 - 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: This is a 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 randomised controlled trials that compared mental health apps (single- or multipurpose) with 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 met full-text eligibility criteria. These included 6 studies on treatment apps, 4 on 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 healthcare, 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.

AB - 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: This is a 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 randomised controlled trials that compared mental health apps (single- or multipurpose) with 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 met full-text eligibility criteria. These included 6 studies on treatment apps, 4 on 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 healthcare, 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.

KW - Humans

KW - Mobile Applications

KW - Mental Disorders/therapy

KW - Smartphone

KW - Telemedicine

KW - Mental Health

KW - Mental Health Services

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85218483306&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093932

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093932

M3 - Article

C2 - 39933815

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 15

SP - e093932

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 2

ER -