Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26932350›Full record

ReviewJMIR mental health2016

Mental Health Smartphone Apps: Review and Evidence-Based Recommendations for Future Developments.

David Bakker, Nikolaos Kazantzis, Debra Rickwood, Nikki Rickard

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in JMIR mental health, 2016. 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 364 papers, 15 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
364citing papers in PubMed, 15 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT04948996 naterminatednot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

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.

TypeinterventionalSponsorNorthern Illinois UniversityRan2021 to 2021Enrolled27ConditionsDepression Mild, Depression ModerateArmsEl Buen Consejo Móvil- Group (EBCM-G), El Buen Consejo Móvil- Individual (EBCM-I)
NCT06991673 naenrolling by invitationnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Adolescent Surgery Roadmap Feasibility and Acceptability Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of MichiganRan2025 to 2029Enrolled100ConditionsPediatric Surgical ProceduresArmsBehavioral Treatment
NCT07247955 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effectiveness of the Guided and Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Protocol in a Patient With Treatment-resistant Panic Disorder

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRan2023 to 2025Enrolled46ConditionsPanic DisorderArmsThe group intervention used the sessions described in traditional form, The group intervention used the sessions described in a self-guided format using an application
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

364 citing papers in PubMed, 15 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Pooled it
  11. Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Pooled it
  14. Pooled it
  15. Pooled it
  16. Trial
  17. Trial
  18. Trial
  19. Trial
  20. Trial

304 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

David BakkerSchool of Psychology and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia. david.bakker@monash.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0343-1100
Nikolaos KazantzisORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9559-4160
Debra RickwoodORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4227-0231
Nikki RickardORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4236-8538

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe number of mental health apps (MHapps) developed and now available to smartphone users has increased in recent years. MHapps and other technology-based solutions have the potential to play an important part in the future of mental health care; however, there is no single guide for the development of evidence-based MHapps. Many currently available MHapps lack features that would greatly improve their functionality, or include features that are not optimized. Furthermore, MHapp developers rarely conduct or publish trial-based experimental validation of their apps. Indeed, a previous systematic review revealed a complete lack of trial-based evidence for many of the hundreds of MHapps available.

objectiveTo guide future MHapp development, a set of clear, practical, evidence-based recommendations is presented for MHapp developers to create better, more rigorous apps.

methodsA literature review was conducted, scrutinizing research across diverse fields, including mental health interventions, preventative health, mobile health, and mobile app design.

resultsSixteen recommendations were formulated. Evidence for each recommendation is discussed, and guidance on how these recommendations might be integrated into the overall design of an MHapp is offered. Each recommendation is rated on the basis of the strength of associated evidence. It is important to design an MHapp using a behavioral plan and interactive framework that encourages the user to engage with the app; thus, it may not be possible to incorporate all 16 recommendations into a single MHapp.

conclusionsRandomized controlled trials are required to validate future MHapps and the principles upon which they are designed, and to further investigate the recommendations presented in this review. Effective MHapps are required to help prevent mental health problems and to ease the burden on health systems.

Indexed as

anxietyappsclinical psychologycognitive behavioral therapycognitive behavior therapydepressionmental healthmobile appsmobile phonessmartphones

Identifiers

PMID26932350
PMCPMC4795320

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.