SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2013
Smartphones for smarter delivery of mental health programs: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 484 papers, 17 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Assessing Effectiveness of a Text-based Mental Health Coaching Application in Improving Mental Well-Being Among House Officers, IMU Faculty, IMU Corporate Staff and IMU Students in Malaysia
Effectiveness of Group Versus Individual Self-management of Depression Using a Mobile App to Increase Treatment Adherence Among Users of a University-based Helpline in the Dominican Republic.
The Efficacy of "Inner Peak" an AI-enabled Digital Wellness App on Mental Wellness Among a Sample of University of West Indies (UWI) Mona Students
Who cites it
484 citing papers in PubMed, 17 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults with substance use disorder that have a co-occurring mental health disorder: an umbrella review and illustrative cost-effectiveness analysis.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2026Pooled it
- Digital Interventions and Mental Health Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Methodological quality in randomised clinical trials of mental health apps: systematic review and longitudinal analysis.BMJ mental health · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of mhealth applications on military personnel's physical and mental health: A systematic review.Military psychology : the official journal of the Division of Military Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of evidence based mental health apps on user health outcome: A systematic literature review.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Bibliometric analysis of trends, innovations, and the future of CBT-based mobile interventions for depression.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- User engagement in clinical trials of digital mental health interventions: a systematic review.BMC medical research methodology · 2024Pooled it
- Impact of Smartphone App-Based Psychological Interventions for Reducing Depressive Symptoms in People With Depression: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Interventions for Adolescent Patients in Hospital Settings: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Framework for the Design Engineering and Clinical Implementation and Evaluation of mHealth Apps for Sleep Disturbance: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Smartphone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Patients With Major Depression: Systematic Review of Health Implications.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Pooled it
- Smartphone-Based Interventions and Internalizing Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Mobile App-Based Psychological Interventions for College Students: A Systematic Review of the Literature.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Pooled it
- Adaptive Elements in Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatment Systems: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- The effectiveness of interventions for reducing subjective and objective social isolation among people with mental health problems: a systematic review.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2020Pooled it
- Engaging Children and Young People in Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review of Modes of Delivery, Facilitators, and Barriers.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Smartphone Apps for the Treatment of Mental Disorders: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Pooled it
- Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of an App-Based Mindfulness Breast Care Program for Reducing Body Image Distress and Stigma Among Survivors of Breast Cancer: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Supporting mental well-being of healthcare workers using a mobile app: A mixed-methods feasibility study.PloS one · 2026Trial
424 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe rapid growth in the use of mobile phone applications (apps) provides the opportunity to increase access to evidence-based mental health care.
objectiveOur goal was to systematically review the research evidence supporting the efficacy of mental health apps for mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets) for all ages.
methodsA comprehensive literature search (2008-2013) in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, PsycTESTS, Compendex, and Inspec was conducted. We included trials that examined the effects of mental health apps (for depression, anxiety, substance use, sleep disturbances, suicidal behavior, self-harm, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, stress, and gambling) delivered on mobile devices with a pre- to posttest design or compared with a control group. The control group could consist of wait list, treatment-as-usual, or another recognized treatment.
resultsIn total, 5464 abstracts were identified. Of those, 8 papers describing 5 apps targeting depression, anxiety, and substance abuse met the inclusion criteria. Four apps provided support from a mental health professional. Results showed significant reductions in depression, stress, and substance use. Within-group and between-group intention-to-treat effect sizes ranged from 0.29-2.28 and 0.01-0.48 at posttest and follow-up, respectively.
conclusionsMental health apps have the potential to be effective and may significantly improve treatment accessibility. However, the majority of apps that are currently available lack scientific evidence about their efficacy. The public needs to be educated on how to identify the few evidence-based mental health apps available in the public domain to date. Further rigorous research is required to develop and test evidence-based programs. Given the small number of studies and participants included in this review, the high risk of bias, and unknown efficacy of long-term follow-up, current findings should be interpreted with caution, pending replication. Two of the 5 evidence-based mental health apps are currently commercially available in app stores.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.