Current evidence on the efficacy of mental health smartphone apps for symptoms of depression and anxiety. A meta‐analysis of 176 randomized controlled trials
Deakin University · Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · +6 more institutions
Abstract
The mental health care available for depression and anxiety has recently undergone a major technological revolution, with growing interest towards the potential of smartphone apps as a scalable tool to treat these conditions. Since the last comprehensive meta-analysis in 2019 established positive yet variable effects of apps on depressive and anxiety symptoms, more than 100 new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been carried out. We conducted an updated meta-analysis with the objectives of providing more precise estimates of effects, quantifying generalizability from this evidence base, and understanding whether major app and trial characteristics moderate effect sizes. We included 176 RCTs that aimed to…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 61.42
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 51
Authors
6- JLJake LinardonCorresponding
Deakin University
- JTJohn Torous
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University
- JFJoseph Firth
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester
- PCPim Cuijpers
Babeș-Bolyai University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- MMMariel Messer
Deakin University
Topics & keywords
- Anxiety
- Medicine
- Randomized controlled trial
- Generalizability theory
- Depression (economics)
- Mental health
- Meta-analysis
- Psychiatry