E-Mental Health: A Rapid Review of the Literature

TLDR: E-mental health applications are proliferating and hold promise to expand access to care and to apply it to diverse populations, according to a review of the literature, including its applications, strengths, limitations, and evidence base.

Abstract: As e–mental health applications proliferate, the Internet is increasingly viewed as a potentially transformative tool that will broaden access to effective mental health services. This “rapid review” of the literature found an encouraging amount of rigorous research supporting the effectiveness of e–mental health applications, even therapist-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, policy makers and health leaders must be sure to incorporate e–mental health applications into the existing service system so they complement—and not detract from—the provision of direct care, the authors said.