This research has shown that smartphone apps can be effective in the treatment of common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. A recent review of randomised controlled trials using smartphone apps for depression found that depressive symptoms were reduced significantly more from smartphone apps than control conditions.
Can mobile health apps help improve mental health?
The number of mobile health (mHealth) apps focused on mental health has rapidly increased; a 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) survey of 15,000 mHealth apps revealed that 29% focus on mental health diagnosis, treatment, or support (1).
What are the different types of mental health apps?
Mental health apps target a broad range of psychological disorders and vary in design and functionality. NIMH classifies mental health apps into six categories based on functionality: self-management, cognition improvement, skills-training, social support, symptom tracking, and passive data collection (3).
Can sensors and machine learning improve mental health apps?
While today only 1.1% of available mental health apps use sensor data [ 56 ], emerging research explores the potential for sensors and machine learning to help predict relapse [ 57, 58 ], medication response, the impact of environment factors (such as green space) on mental health, and more.
Are apps effective for treating anxiety?
Recent meta-analyses (including those discussed above) underline these concerns, suggesting a need for more studies that compare apps with (realistic) treatment as usual. This is particularly the case for anxiety, where evidence is less clear as to whether apps are superior when compared to active or digital attention controls.
How do smartphones help mental health?
Meanwhile, smartphone apps that play subliminal relaxing music in order to distract from the noise and worries of everyday living have been proven to be beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety. Technology can also provide greater access to mental health professionals through email, online chats or video calls.
How mobile health applications can help treat depression?
Mobile health (mHealth) interventions may circumvent logistical barriers to in-person care (e.g., cost, transportation), however the symptoms of depression (low motivation, concentration difficulties) may make it difficult for people with the disorder to engage with mHealth.
Do therapy apps work?
A good amount of scientific evidence suggests that mobile apps can effectively treat depression and anxiety, and some evidence is accumulating to support apps to reduce self-harm and suicidal ideation. However, the most effective apps for depression and anxiety also include some form of human interaction.
What do you think about using a smartphone app to treat anxiety?
Researchers tested a new smartphone app for severe mental illness on 315 people across 45 states. They found that symptoms of anxiety and depression were reduced after using the app for 30 days. Additionally, participants reported increased self-esteem and positive perceptions relating to their own recovery.
How can apps improve mental health?
They include: Thought Diary - Improve your mood by analyzing your thoughts and identifying negative/distorted thinking patterns based on principles from Cognitive Therapy. Activities - Regain your energy by performing energizing activities and tracking your mood before and after, based on Behavioural Activation Therapy.
How are mental health apps useful?
Research from 2018 showed that mental health apps may help improve both the monitoring and management of mental health conditions. Further research from 2018 also suggested apps work because they're easy to use, increase engagement in treatment plans, and make monitoring symptoms easier.
Is virtual therapy as effective?
The bottom line. Research has found that online therapy can be effective at treating anxiety, depression, and trauma. There is no difference in patient satisfaction depending on whether therapy is online or in-person, and for either method of receiving therapy, the outcomes are better the more sessions someone attends.
Why do mental health apps fail?
Despite these apps dealing with incredibly sensitive issues — like depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, eating disorders, and PTSD — they routinely share data, allow weak passwords, target vulnerable users with personalized ads, and feature vague and poorly written privacy policies.
Is a mobile app as good as a therapist?
Research looking at randomized controlled trials of mobile app mental health interventions with almost 50,000 patients did not find "convincing evidence" that any mobile app intervention greatly improved outcomes related to people's anxiety, depression, smoking or drinking, thoughts of suicide, or feelings of well- ...
Is Calm app effective?
In a 2020 survey, 97 percent of the parents surveyed found that Calm's sleep stories helped improved their kids' sleeping patterns. Calm is also a great platform if you're new to meditation. Many of the app's features aim to teach others about mindfulness and how to start accessible meditation practices.
Are anxiety apps Helpful?
Depending on how often you use your apps of choice, they can be highly effective in helping to lower feelings of anxiety, stress, and panic. Many of these apps use evidence-based techniques of mindfulness and grounding.
Are mental health apps evidence based?
Research-informed mental health apps are backed by scientific research, making them a quality option for your mental health journey. They can be a good tool to add to existing therapy or medication treatment.
A Closer Look at the Study
The CORE app was tested on 315 people in 45 states, who were recruited through online ads on Google and Facebook in 2020.
What This Means For You
If you have concerns about your mental health or are finding it more difficult than usual to manage your emotions or the demands of daily life, make an appointment with your primary care provider. You can also ask your local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) representative to help you find affordable mental health care in your area.
Why are mental health apps so slow?
One reason is that testing is a slow process and technology evolves quickly. By the time an app has been put through rigorous scientific testing, the original technology may be outdated. Currently, there are no national standards for evaluating the effectiveness of the hundreds of mental health apps that are available.
How does technology help mental health?
Service to more people: Technology can help mental health providers offer treatment to people in remote areas or to many people in times of sudden need (e.g., following a natural disaster or terror attack).
What does an app do?
Some apps are stand-alone programs that promise to improve memory or thinking skills. Others help the user connect to a peer counselor or to a health care professional.
What is anonymity in mental health?
Anonymity: Clients can seek treatment options without involving other people. An introduction to care: Technology may be a good first step for those who have avoided mental health care in the past. Lower cost: Some apps are free or cost less than traditional care.
What are intervention apps?
Intervention apps may help someone give up smoking, manage symptoms, or overcome anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or insomnia. While the apps are becoming more appealing and user-friendly, there still isn’t a lot of information on their effectiveness.
What is the biggest concern with technological interventions?
Effectiveness: The biggest concern with technological interventions is obtaining scientific evidence that they work and that they work as well as traditional methods. For whom and for what: Another concern is understanding if apps work for all people and for all mental health conditions.
What are the benefits of mobile devices?
Mobile devices like cell phones, smartphones, and tablets are giving the public, doctors, and researchers new ways to access help, monitor progress, and increase understanding of mental wellbeing. Mobile mental health support can be very simple but effective.
Adequacy of Mental Health Mobile Apps for Psychological Treatment
Mental health mobile apps target a broad range of psychological disorders and vary in design and functionality. Mental health care apps are broadly classified into six categories based on functionality: self-management, skills-training, cognition improvement, symptom tracking, social support, and passive data collection.
Several High-efficacy Characteristics of Mobile Apps
It is important to acknowledge the challenges of using apps for mental health treatment. To be effective and address these challenges, mental health apps are evidence-based and carefully designed.
Mental Health App Market
According to DelveInsight analysis, worldwide installations for top Mobile Wellness (mental health) Apps are likely to increase by almost 42 per cent in 2021 when compared to about 730 million installs in 2019. Also, top Mental Health Mobile Apps are forecasted to cross 1 billion worldwide installs in 2021.
Mental Health Mobile apps Usage in Different Diseases
Many times depression treatment options do not result in complete alleviation of symptoms, and often fail to address post-treatment subclinical or residual depression symptoms.
Future of Mental Health Care Apps
A few years back researchers were successful in proving that mental health support apps are found to improve both the monitoring and management of mental health conditions. Several factors such as ease in usage, increase engagement in treatment plans and making monitoring symptoms easier are relevant to the users.
Why are apps important for mental health?
However due consideration is required of the included therapeutic approaches (and how they complement care), clinical safety of app content, data privacy and security, likely ongoing engagement with the app, and how digital tools will integrate with existing ways of working . Importantly, any tool — even those harnessing the most recent developments such as sensors or JITAIs — is likely much more impactful if used in conjunction with ongoing care, rather than replacing it.
What is the evidence base for the use of apps in the treatment of mental health conditions?
The evidence base for the use of apps in the treatment of mental health conditions is most developed for the treatment of mood disorders. Meta-analytic evidence now supports the modest effectiveness of app-based interventions in improving self-reported symptoms associated with depression [ 6 ••, 7, 8] and anxiety [ 9 • ]. In depression, app-based interventions incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mood monitoring, and mindfulness (but notably not cognitive training [ 6 •• ]) are associated with small to moderate effects when compared to inactive controls. A similar effect has been observed in apps for anxiety [ 9 • ]. Importantly, there appears to be no incremental benefit of combining face-to-face and app-supported care using the same underlying therapeutic principles, possibly because of ceiling effects [ 7 ]. As a result, if the intention is to offer a single type of therapy, an either-or approach to the use of apps or face-to-face interventions may be appropriate, particularly in mild-moderate depression (where apps have the clearest positive effects) [ 6 •• ]. There may be a place, however, for hybrid approaches where apps and face-to-face strategies are used to target different aspects of condition management.
