Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32763881›Full record

ReviewJMIR mental health2020

The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review.

Hailey Tremain, Carla McEnery, Kathryn Fletcher, Greg Murray

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in JMIR mental health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 95 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
95citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
13.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

95 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 178 citations in OpenAlex.

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  8. Digital interventions in mental health: evidence syntheses and economic modelling.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2022
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35 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 at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Hailey TremainCentre for Mental Health, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6304-1940
Carla McEneryOrygen Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9145-9068
Kathryn FletcherCentre for Mental Health, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8423-8651
Greg MurrayCentre for Mental Health, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7208-5603
Swinburne University of Technology · AUOrygen Youth Health · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDigital mental health interventions offer unique advantages, and research indicates that these interventions are effective for a range of mental health concerns. Although these interventions are less established for individuals with serious mental illnesses, they demonstrate significant promise. A central consideration in traditional face-to-face therapies is the therapeutic alliance, whereas the nature of a digital therapeutic alliance and its relationship with outcomes requires further attention, particularly for individuals with serious mental illnesses.

objectiveThis narrative review aims to encourage further consideration and critical evaluation of the therapeutic alliance in digital mental health, specifically for individuals with serious mental illnesses.

methodsA narrative review was conducted by combining 3 main areas of the literature: the first examining the evidence for digital mental health interventions for serious mental illnesses, the second illuminating the nature and role of the therapeutic alliance in digital interventions, and the third surrounding practical considerations to enhance a digital therapeutic alliance.

resultsResults indicated that a therapeutic alliance can be cultivated in digital interventions for those with serious mental illnesses, but that it may have unique, yet-to-be-confirmed characteristics in digital contexts. In addition, a therapeutic alliance appears to be less directly associated with outcomes in digital interventions than with those in face-to-face therapies. One possibility is that the digital therapeutic alliance is associated with increased engagement and adherence to digital interventions, through which it appears to influence outcomes. A number of design and implementation considerations may enhance the digital therapeutic alliance, including human support and technological features.

conclusionsMore research is required to further understand the nature and specific role of a therapeutic alliance in digital interventions for serious mental illnesses, particularly in informing their design. This review revealed several key research priorities to advance the therapeutic alliance in digital interventions.

Indexed as

bipolar disordereHealthmental healthmHealthmobile phonepsychosistelehealth

Identifiers

PMID32763881
PMCPMC7442952
OpenAlexW3033785558

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.