ArticleFrontiers in digital health2023
A CBT-based mobile intervention as an adjunct treatment for adolescents with symptoms of depression: a virtual randomized controlled feasibility trial.
Article in Frontiers in digital health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04524598 (Limbix Spark), which is not on this map. Cited by 15 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.
Limbix Spark: A CBT-based Mobile Intervention as First Line Treatment for Adolescent Depression During COVID-19
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Association between user engagement and clinical outcomes in smartphone apps for depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychiatry research · 2026Pooled it
- How have contemporary research studies used social media to recruit to digital self-help intervention research for young people's mental health?: a mapping review.BMC medical research methodology · 2025Pooled it
- Preliminary Efficacy of a Digital Intervention for Adolescent Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Trial
- Comparative efficacy of digital health interventions for depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and bayesian network meta-analysis.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2026Article
- Mitigating Blue-Light Risk in Display-Based Digital Therapeutics: A Practical Framework to Support Clinical Efficacy.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- How have contemporary studies evaluating self-help digital mental health interventions for young people monitored and reported on adverse events and harms?: a systematic scoping review.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Review
- Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents and Young People: Evaluating Efficacy and Accessibility.Cureus · 2025Review
- Assessment of digital therapeutics in decentralized clinical trials: A scoping review.PLOS digital health · 2025Article
- Digital Mental Health Interventions for Young People Aged 16-25 Years: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Associations between microaggressions, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use among Black young adults: findings from a pilot study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- A behavioral activation mobile application for depression among Korean young adults: a pilot study of multi-modal app usage patterns and clinical outcomes.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps.NPJ digital medicine · 2024Article
- Afraid of the dentist? There's an app for that: Development and usability testing of a cognitive behavior therapy-based mobile app.PLOS digital health · 2024Article
- Eating disorder symptoms and comorbid mental health risk among teens recruited to a digital intervention research study via two online approaches.The International journal of eating disorders · 2024Article
- Digital Therapeutics for Improving Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Biological Products: Preclinical and Clinical Studies Supporting Development of Drug + Digital Combination Therapies for Chronic Diseases.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: High rates of adolescent depression demand for more effective, accessible treatment options. A virtual randomized controlled trial was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-week, self-guided, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based mobile application, Spark, compared to a psychoeducational mobile application (Active Control) as an adjunct treatment for adolescents with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A community sample aged 13-21, with self-reported symptoms of depression, was recruited nationwide. Participants were randomly assigned to use either Spark or Active Control (N Results: 60 eligible adolescents (female = 47) were enrolled in 2 months. 35.6% of those expressing interest were consented and all enrolled. Study retention was high (85%). Spark users rated the app as usable (System Usability Scale Conclusion: Recruitment, enrollment, and retention rates demonstrated study feasibility by being comparable or better than other mental health apps. Spark was highly acceptable relative to published norms. The study's novel safety protocol efficiently detected and managed adverse events. The lack of significant difference in depression symptom reduction between Spark and Active Control may be explained by study design and study design factors. Procedures established during this feasibility study will be leveraged for subsequent powered clinical trials evaluating app efficacy and safety. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04524598.
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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.