Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28784594›Full record

SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2017

Application of Synchronous Text-Based Dialogue Systems in Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review.

Simon Hoermann, Kathryn L McCabe, David N Milne, Rafael A Calvo

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 84 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
84citing papers in PubMed, 7 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.

NCT03800719 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2018, after this paper: background citation

Personalized Support Using Instant Messaging Applications to Increase Smoking Cessation in Smokers Proactively Recruited From Smoking Hotspots in Hong Kong: a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe University of Hong KongRan2018 to 2020Enrolled696ConditionsSmoking CessationArmsAWARD advice, Health warning leaflet, Active referral to smoking cessation (SC) services, Regular messages through Instant Messaging (IM), Psychosocial support and referral to SC services through IM
NCT04025151 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Nurse-led Alcohol Brief Intervention Plus Mobile Personalized Chat-based Support on Reducing Alcohol Use in University Students: a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe University of Hong KongRan2020 to 2022Enrolled770ConditionsAlcohol MisuseArmsAlcohol brief intervention, 12-page health warning leaflet, Regular messages through Instant Messaging (IM), Real-time chat-based support through IM Apps, General health through SMS
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

84 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  7. Conversational Agents for Chronic Disease Self-Management: A Systematic Review.AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium · 2020
    Pooled it
  8. Trial
  9. A randomized pilot trial of a mobile delivered brief motivational interviewing and behavioral economic alcohol intervention for emerging adults.Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors · 2023
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24 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.

Simon Hoermann *Positive Computing Laboratory, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4201-844X
Kathryn L McCabe *Positive Computing Laboratory, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4758-5336
David N MilnePositive Computing Laboratory, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0596-7814
Rafael A CalvoPositive Computing Laboratory, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2238-0684

Funding

Interdisciplinary Training for Autism Researchers(RMI)T32MH073124 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS · PI Stephen Charles Noctor, Christine Wu Nordahl · 2004 to 2026
$6.8M
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSynchronous written conversations (or "chats") are becoming increasingly popular as Web-based mental health interventions. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to evaluate and summarize the quality of these interventions.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to review the current evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of online one-on-one mental health interventions that use text-based synchronous chat.

methodsA systematic search was conducted of the databases relevant to this area of research (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online [MEDLINE], PsycINFO, Central, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, IEEE, and ACM). There were no specific selection criteria relating to the participant group. Studies were included if they reported interventions with individual text-based synchronous conversations (ie, chat or text messaging) and a psychological outcome measure.

resultsA total of 24 articles were included in this review. Interventions included a wide range of mental health targets (eg, anxiety, distress, depression, eating disorders, and addiction) and intervention design. Overall, compared with the waitlist (WL) condition, studies showed significant and sustained improvements in mental health outcomes following synchronous text-based intervention, and post treatment improvement equivalent but not superior to treatment as usual (TAU) (eg, face-to-face and telephone counseling).

conclusionsFeasibility studies indicate substantial innovation in this area of mental health intervention with studies utilizing trained volunteers and chatbot technologies to deliver interventions. While studies of efficacy show positive post-intervention gains, further research is needed to determine whether time requirements for this mode of intervention are feasible in clinical practice.

Indexed as

Feasibility StudiesHumansMental HealthText Messagingchatdialog systemremote psychotherapy

Identifiers

PMID28784594
PMCPMC5595406

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.