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The effects of mobile apps on stress, anxiety, and depression: overview of systematic reviews

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2020

Fatemeh Khademian Open the ORCID record for Fatemeh Khademian [Opens in a new window] ,
Azam Aslani Open the ORCID record for Azam Aslani [Opens in a new window]  and
Peivand Bastani
Fatemeh Khademian
Affiliation:
Health Information Management, Student Research Committee, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Azam Aslani*
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran National Agency for Strategic Research in Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Peivand Bastani
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
*
Author for correspondence: Azam Aslani, E-mail: azamaslani@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives

Despite a large number of mobile apps in the field of mental health, it is difficult to find a useful and reliable one, mainly due to the fact that the effectiveness of many apps has not been assessed scientifically. The present study aimed to assess the effects of mental health apps on managing the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for the papers published from 2000 to 2019. Studies were included if they reviewed articles or mobile apps for their effectiveness in stress, anxiety, and depression. The reviews that had considered mobile apps or web-based mobile applications as an intervention or part of intervention were included, as well.

Results

A total of 4,999 peer-reviewed articles were identified, out of which nine systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Seven systematic reviews measured depression outcomes, three measured stress, and five systematic reviews measured anxiety symptoms. The applications that used behavior change strategies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Behavioral Activation, reported significant effects on depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusion

It seems that mental health apps can be promising media for reducing depressive symptoms. This field is an emerging area of mobile health, and further research should be done in future in order to reach conclusive evidence.

Keywords

Mobile healthmHealthMobile appTelemedicineStressDepressionAnxiety
Type
Assessment
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , 2021 , e4
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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