Potential and Pitfalls of Mobile Mental Health Apps in Traditional Treatment: An Umbrella Review
TLDR
In this paper , the authors provide a holistic summary of mobile mental health apps' key potential and pitfalls, including user engagement issues, safety issues in emergencies, privacy and confidentiality breaches, and the utilization of non-evidence-based approaches.Abstract:
While the rapid growth of mobile mental health applications has offered an avenue of support unbridled by physical distance, time, and cost, the digitalization of traditional interventions has also triggered doubts surrounding their effectiveness and safety. Given the need for a more comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of mobile mental health apps in traditional treatment, this umbrella review provides a holistic summary of their key potential and pitfalls. A total of 36 reviews published between 2014 and 2022—including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, and literature reviews—were identified from the Cochrane library, Medline (via PubMed Central), and Scopus databases. The majority of results supported the key potential of apps in helping to (1) provide timely support, (2) ease the costs of mental healthcare, (3) combat stigma in help-seeking, and (4) enhance therapeutic outcomes. Our results also identified common themes of apps’ pitfalls (i.e., challenges faced by app users), including (1) user engagement issues, (2) safety issues in emergencies, (3) privacy and confidentiality breaches, and (4) the utilization of non-evidence-based approaches. We synthesize the potential and pitfalls of mental health apps provided by the reviews and outline critical avenues for future research.read more
Citations
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Analysis of Mobile App-Based Mental Health Solutions for College Students: A Rapid Review
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mHealth App Barriers, Usability, and Personalization: A Cross-Sectional Study from Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Arafa,Zahraa M. Mostafa,Haytham A. Sheerah,Fahad Alzahrani,Yasir Almuzaini,Shaimaa A. Senosy,Radwa Ibrahim Ali Hassan +6 more
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Mental health mobile application self‐help for adolescents exhibiting psychological distress: A single case experimental design
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Effects of patient empowerment using mental health apps on trust in health care providers and patient compliance: Cross-sectional survey (Preprint)
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Digital Health Technologies and Major Depressive Disorder.
Roger S. McIntyre,Walter Greenleaf,Grzegorz Bulaj,Stephanie Taylor,Georgia Mitsi,Andrew H. Czysz,Greg Silvesti,Manny Garcia,Rakesh K. Jain +8 more
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors highlight the existing gaps and challenges in depression management and discuss the current and future landscape of digital health technology as it applies to the challenges faced by patients with MDD and their healthcare providers.
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