BACKGROUND
Online assessments of mental health concerns hold great potential for earlier, more cost-effective and more accurate diagnosis of psychiatric conditions compared to traditional interview-based methods.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of a comprehensive online mental health assessment on mental health and wellbeing in over 2000 individuals presenting with symptoms of depression.
METHODS
Participants presenting with depressive symptoms at baseline completed an online assessment which screened for mood and other psychiatric conditions. After completing the assessment, participants received a report containing their assessment results and personalised psychoeducation. After 6 and 12 months, participants were asked to rate the usefulness of the online assessment on different mental health-related outcomes, as well as to self-report on their recent help-seeking behaviour, diagnosis, medication and lifestyle changes. Additionally, general mental wellbeing was assessed at baseline and both follow-ups using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).
RESULTS
Data from all participants who completed either the 6-months or the 12-months follow-up (N=2064) were analysed. The majority of study participants rated the study as useful for their subjective mental wellbeing. This included talking more openly (68%) and understanding one’s mental health problems better (56%). While most participants (76%) found their assessment results useful, only a small proportion (15%) subsequently discussed them with a mental health professional, leading to only a small number of study participants receiving a new diagnosis (5%). Among those who were reviewed, new mood disorder diagnoses were predicted by the digital algorithm with high sensitivity (above 70%), and nearly half of the newly-diagnosed participants also had a corresponding change in medication. Furthermore, participants’ subjective wellbeing significantly improved over 12 months (baseline WEMWBS score: M=35.24, SD=8.11; 12-months WEMWBS score: M=41.19, SD=10.59). Significant positive predictors of follow-up subjective wellbeing included talking more openly, exercising more and having been reviewed by a psychiatrist.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that completing an online mental health assessment and receiving personalised psychoeducation is associated with subjective mental health improvements, facilitated by increased self-awareness and subsequent utilisation of self-help interventions. Integrating online mental health assessments within primary and/or secondary care services could benefit patients further and expedite earlier diagnosis and effective treatment.
CLINICALTRIAL
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT
RR2-10.2196/18453
Mental health assessment of Israeli adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
