Mobile Apps Effective for Treating Moderate and Severe Depression

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2023 -- Mobile app interventions are effective for treating moderate and severe depression, according to a review published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Network Open.

Hayoung Bae, from Korea University in Seoul, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to identify randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of mobile app treatments in adults with moderate-to-severe depression.

Based on 13 included studies (16 intervention apps with 1,470 participants), the researchers found that the overall pooled effect size of mobile app interventions was 0.50 versus both active and inactive control groups. Significantly lower treatment outcomes were seen with interventions with in-app notifications (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.45) versus interventions without (SMD, 0.71). App interventions lasting less than eight weeks were associated with a significantly greater effect size (SMD, 0.77) versus interventions delivered for eight weeks or longer (SMD, 0.43).

"In this systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy associated with app-based interventions for moderate-to-severe depression, a significant reduction was found in depression severity associated with use of app interventions," the authors write. "These findings are expected to provide developers and researchers in the rapidly evolving field of mHealth with practical insights into the development, prescription, and implementation of app-based depression interventions."

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2023-11-22 00:51

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords