Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41968453›Full record

SynthesisJournal of pediatric psychology2026

Digital psychological interventions in youth with neurological disorders: a systematic review.

Yvette Keevers, Asmitha Sivaneswaran, Joanne Dudeney, Thomas Woldhuis, Milena Gandy

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of pediatric psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yvette KeeversLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.ORCID 0009-0008-2888-1176
Asmitha SivaneswaranLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.
Joanne DudeneyLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8552-5022
Thomas WoldhuisLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.ORCID 0009-0003-6669-1414
Milena GandyLifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2161-3298

Funding

Macquarie University ResearchMacquarie University Research FellowshipMS Australia and Dr Joanne Dudeney
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveYouth with neurological disorders (NDs) face increased risk of psychological difficulties and poor quality of life. This research aimed to systematically review the current state of evidence of digital psychological interventions (DPIs) for improving (1) psychological and/or (2) health-related outcomes in children and adolescents with NDs.

methodsSystematic searches were performed in four databases CENTRAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and NeuroBITE between inception and 27 November 2024. Included studies were clinical trials (e.g., randomized controlled trials or single-group pre-post designs) investigating the efficacy of a DPI aimed at improving psychological and/or health-related outcomes in youth (<18 years) with NDs. Risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (RoB2) by two authors. Psychological outcomes included internalizing (e.g., depression), behavioral (e.g., externalizing symptoms), and/or cognitive symptoms (e.g., executive function). Health-related outcomes included physical symptoms (e.g., tics), adherence, and quality of life.

resultsTwenty studies (total participants = 1,508) met criteria and were included. Most studies (k = 10; 50%) focused on youth with traumatic brain injury. Findings revealed mixed trends of efficacy with 12 studies (60%) indicating that DPIs improved outcomes, mainly in behavioral outcomes. Limitations included multiple trials rated as having some concerns (k = 8; 47%) or high risk of bias (k = 5; 29%) due to poor methodological quality.

conclusionsDPIs may improve psychological and health-related outcomes; however, higher-quality research is needed to explore the potential of DPIs to address the psychological needs of youth with NDs.

Indexed as

Nervous System DiseasesPsychosocial InterventionAdolescentChildDigital HealthDigital MediaHumansQuality of Lifedigital psychological interventionhealth-related outcomesneurological disorder, psychological outcomesyouth

Identifiers

PMID41968453
PMCPMC13505392

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.