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ArticleJMIR research protocols2026

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of the Tankevirus and Grubl Mental Health Apps Compared With a Placebo App-Mental Health Intervention With Digital Applications (MIND-APP): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Researcher-Blinded Trial.

Kim Rand, Julia Menichetti, Torbjørn Wisløff, Hanne Helene Brorson

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07627204 (App-Based Mental Health Interventions for Anxiety and Depression), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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.

NCT07627204 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2027, after this paper: background citation

App-Based Mental Health Interventions for Anxiety and Depression: Protocol for the MIND-APP Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity Hospital, AkershusRan2027 to 2028Enrolled1,000ConditionsAnxiety, DepressionArmsTankevirus, Grubl, Placebo Application
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

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.

Kim RandHealth Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.ORCID 0000-0001-7692-4099
Julia MenichettiHealth Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.ORCID 0000-0002-9445-987X
Torbjørn WisløffHealth Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.ORCID 0000-0002-7539-082X
Hanne Helene BrorsonBrorson & Sande AS, Oslo, Norway.ORCID 0000-0001-6500-4035

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnxiety and depression impose substantial clinical and economic burdens worldwide, with high prevalence, impaired functioning, and elevated health care costs. Digital self-help interventions offer scalable and potentially cost-effective strategies; however, evidence from rigorously controlled economic evaluations remains sparse.

objectiveThis trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 2 Norwegian mental health apps: Tankevirus (cognitive behavioral therapy-based) and Grubl (metacognitive therapy-based), compared with a digital placebo in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, improving health-related quality of life, and generating quality-adjusted life years.

methodsThe Mental Health Intervention With Digital Applications (MIND-APP) trial is a 3-arm randomized controlled trial (1:1:1 allocation) conducted fully remotely via a bespoke smartphone research platform. A total of 1000 Norwegian residents aged 16 years or older with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression will be recruited through national digital outreach. Coprimary outcomes are changes in anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) scores from baseline to postintervention (2-4 weeks). Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), quality-adjusted life years accrued over 6 months, functional impairment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale), health care resource use, and adverse events. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for Tankevirus and Grubl relative to placebo will be estimated from the perspective of public health services.

resultsFunding was secured in April 2025, with ethical approvals, licensing, and app development planned through 2026. Recruitment will commence in 2027, with follow-up through 2027 and early 2028. An extension of the timetable has been approved by the funding agent to allow inclusion of an updated version of the Tankevirus app, which will be ready for testing around May 2027. Results are expected to be published in autumn 2028 and will provide robust evidence on the clinical and economic value of scalable app-based interventions for common mental health disorders.

conclusionsThis trial will be among the first large-scale registered reports to combine rigorous clinical and economic evaluation of digital mental health interventions. Findings will inform health policy and resource allocation by determining whether low-cost, app-based programs represent cost-effective solutions for reducing the burden of anxiety and depression.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT07627204; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07627204. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/84096.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyMobile ApplicationsAdultAnxietyCost-Benefit AnalysisCost-Effectiveness AnalysisDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthNorwayQuality-Adjusted Life YearsQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicanxietycognitive behavioral therapycost-effectivenessdepressiondigital healthmetacognitive therapyNorwayQALYsquality-adjusted life yearsrandomized controlled trialself-helptelephone app

Identifiers

PMID42575499
PMCPMC13504246

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