ArticleJMIR formative research2021
Effects of Mobile App-Based Intervention for Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Use of Mobile Sensing Data for Longitudinal Monitoring and Prediction of Depression Severity: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Acceptability of Digital Mental Health Interventions for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Pooled it
- Engagement and Outcomes Associated With Message-Based Psychotherapy Among Older and Younger Adults.The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry · 2026Article
- Development and usability evaluation of an audio-based cognitive behavioral therapy mobile app for depression in hemodialysis patients.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- Usability Evaluation of Digital Health Applications for Older People With Depressive Disorders: Prospective Observational Study in a Mixed Methods Design.JMIR human factors · 2025Observational
- Engagement with digital platforms and perspectives on WhatsApp based mental health self-help solution for older adults: a qualitative study from India.Discover mental health · 2025Article
- Feasibility of a Digital Coaching Program for Improving Mental Well-Being and Emotional Intelligence: Pragmatic Retrospective Cohort Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Trajectories of depression symptoms in a therapist-supported digital mental health intervention: a repeated measures latent profile analysis.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2023Article
- Promoting Digital Proficiency and Health Literacy in Middle-aged and Older Adults Through Mobile Devices With the Workshops for Online Technological Inclusion (OITO) Project: Experimental Study.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Late-life depression: Epidemiology, phenotype, pathogenesis and treatment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Review
- Do older adults benefit from telepsychiatric care: Comparison to younger adults.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
- Changes in Quality of Life and Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Participating in Therapist-Guided Digital Mental Health Intervention.Frontiers in public health · 2021Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDigital mental health interventions may help middle-aged and older adults with depression overcome barriers to accessing traditional care, but few studies have investigated their use in this population.
objectiveThis pilot study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the Meru Health Program, an 8-week mobile app-delivered intervention.
methodsA total of 20 community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (age: mean 61.7 years, SD 11.3) with elevated depressive symptoms participated in a single-arm pilot study investigating the Meru Health Program, an app-delivered intervention supported by remote therapists. The program primarily uses mindfulness and cognitive behavioral skills to target depressive symptoms. A semistructured interview was completed at the baseline to establish current psychiatric diagnoses. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression measures. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and the PROMIS Anxiety measure. User experience and acceptability were examined through surveys and qualitative interviews.
resultsIn total, 90% (18/20) of the participants completed the program, with 75% (15/20) completing at least 7 of the 8 introductory weekly lessons. On average, participants completed 60 minutes of practice and exchanged 5 messages with their therapists every week. The app was rated as helpful by 89% (17/19) participants. Significant decreases in depressive (P=.03) and anxiety symptom measures (P=.01) were found; 45% (9/20) of participants showed clinically significant improvement in either depressive symptoms or anxiety symptoms.
conclusionsThe findings suggest that the commercially available Meru Health Program may be feasible, acceptable, and potentially beneficial to middle-aged and older adults. Although larger controlled trials are needed to demonstrate efficacy, these findings suggest that digital health interventions may benefit adults of all ages.
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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.