scholarly journals Mobile Apps for Mental Health Issues: Meta-Review of Meta-Analyses (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Lecomte ◽  
Stéphane Potvin ◽  
Marc Corbière ◽  
Stéphane Guay ◽  
Crystal Samson ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Mental health apps have great potential to help people needing support to cope with distress or specific symptoms. In fact, there is an exponential increase in the number of mental health apps available on the internet, with less than 5% being actually studied. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the quality of the available evidence regarding the use of mental health apps and to summarize the results obtained so far. METHODS Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were searched, specifically for mobile apps on mental health issues or symptoms, and rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. RESULTS A total of 7 meta-analyses were carefully reviewed and rated. Although some meta-analyses looked at any mental health issue and analyzed the data together, these studies were of poorer quality and did not offer strong empirical support for the apps. Studies focusing specifically on anxiety symptoms or depressive symptoms were of moderate to high quality and generally had small to medium effect sizes. Similarly, the effects of apps on stress and quality of life tended to offer small to medium effects and were of moderate to high quality. Studies looking at stand-alone apps had smaller effect sizes but better empirical quality than studies looking at apps with guidance. The studies that included follow-ups mostly found a sustained impact of the app at an 11-week follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This meta-review revealed that apps for anxiety and depression hold great promise with clear clinical advantages, either as stand-alone self-management or as adjunctive treatments. More meta-analyses and more quality studies are needed to recommend apps for other mental health issues or for specific populations.

10.2196/17458 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. e17458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Lecomte ◽  
Stéphane Potvin ◽  
Marc Corbière ◽  
Stéphane Guay ◽  
Crystal Samson ◽  
...  

Background Mental health apps have great potential to help people needing support to cope with distress or specific symptoms. In fact, there is an exponential increase in the number of mental health apps available on the internet, with less than 5% being actually studied. Objective This study aimed to assess the quality of the available evidence regarding the use of mental health apps and to summarize the results obtained so far. Methods Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were searched, specifically for mobile apps on mental health issues or symptoms, and rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Results A total of 7 meta-analyses were carefully reviewed and rated. Although some meta-analyses looked at any mental health issue and analyzed the data together, these studies were of poorer quality and did not offer strong empirical support for the apps. Studies focusing specifically on anxiety symptoms or depressive symptoms were of moderate to high quality and generally had small to medium effect sizes. Similarly, the effects of apps on stress and quality of life tended to offer small to medium effects and were of moderate to high quality. Studies looking at stand-alone apps had smaller effect sizes but better empirical quality than studies looking at apps with guidance. The studies that included follow-ups mostly found a sustained impact of the app at an 11-week follow-up. Conclusions This meta-review revealed that apps for anxiety and depression hold great promise with clear clinical advantages, either as stand-alone self-management or as adjunctive treatments. More meta-analyses and more quality studies are needed to recommend apps for other mental health issues or for specific populations.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. A483
Author(s):  
L. Lewis ◽  
M. Taylor ◽  
S. Roberts

Author(s):  
B.L. Radhakrishnan ◽  
E. Kirubakaran ◽  
R.V. Belfin ◽  
Sudhakar Selvam ◽  
K. Martin Sagayam ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
KC Mabilangan ◽  
S Healy ◽  
T Fantaneanu ◽  
S Whiting

Background: Growing evidence has that a suggested that mental health strongly influences quality of life (QoL) in adolescents with epilepsy. In addition, research has suggested that these mental health issues are associated with increased seizure burden and worsened health outcomes. Despite this, and the elevated rate of mental health issues in this population, seizure control tends to be the dominant or sole concern for treating physicians. Methods: In order to look at potential predictors of QoL in adolescents we looked at seizure related data, demographic variables, and comorbid conditions in 70 adolescents with epilepsy aged 14 to 18 (M= 16.3l; 37 males, 33 females) enrolled into an epilepsy transition clinic. Results: Regression analysis found that mental health remained a significant and independent predictor of QoL even when other significant seizure related variables were accounted for (t(58)= -3.44, p= .001). Furthermore, when looking at the individual subscales of patient QoL (e.g., memory, social support, stigma), mental health was consistently found to be the strongest correlate. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that in order to ensure the best outcomes for transition-aged adolescents with epilepsy, it is important to not only manage and treat seizures, but also to assess and treat mental health issues.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Dalton ◽  
Sian Thomas ◽  
Melissa Harden ◽  
Alison Eastwood ◽  
Gillian Parker

Objective To update a 2010 meta-review of systematic reviews of effective interventions to support carers of ill, disabled, or older adults. In this article, we report the most promising interventions based on the best available evidence. Methods Rapid meta-review of systematic reviews published from January 2009 to 2016. Results Sixty-one systematic reviews were included (27 high quality, 25 medium quality, and nine low quality). The quality of reviews has improved since the original review, but primary studies remain limited in quality and quantity. Fourteen high quality reviews focused on carers of people with dementia, four on carers of those with cancer, four on carers of people with stroke, three on carers of those at the end of life with various conditions, and two on carers of people with mental health problems. Multicomponent interventions featured prominently, emphasizing psychosocial or psychoeducational content, education and training. Improved outcomes for carers were reported for mental health, burden and stress, and wellbeing or quality of life. Negative effects were reported in reviews of respite care. As with earlier work, we found little robust evidence on the cost-effectiveness of reviewed interventions. Conclusions There is no ‘one size fits all’ intervention to support carers. There is potential for effective support in specific groups of carers, such as shared learning, cognitive reframing, meditation, and computer-delivered psychosocial support for carers of people with dementia. For carers of people with cancer, effective support may include psychosocial interventions, art therapy, and counselling. Carers of people with stroke may also benefit from counselling. More good quality, theory-based, primary research is needed.


Mindfulness ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Corbally ◽  
Mick Wilkinson

Abstract Objectives The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine controlled trial evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on stress, anxiety and depression in the perinatal period in women without pre-existing mental health issues. Methods Six databases were searched for studies exploring the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on mental health outcomes of women during the perinatal period. Quality of both controlled trial meeting inclusion criteria were assessed using a tool specifically designed for meta-analyses of mindfulness-based interventions. Effect sizes were extracted for measures of mindfulness, depression, stress and anxiety outcomes. Effects were pooled in separate meta-analyses for all outcomes except anxiety which lacked sufficient studies. Results Twelve studies were analysed. Pooled effects suggest that mindfulness-based interventions cause small but clear increases in mindfulness and reductions in depression in women without pre-existing disorders. Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on other outcomes were unclear and confounded by heterogeneity. Conclusions Available controlled trial evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions improve mindfulness and decrease symptoms of depression during pregnancy in women without pre-existing mental health issues and might be a useful approach to prevent or attenuate the development of depression in the perinatal period.


2016 ◽  
pp. 1279-1298
Author(s):  
Bader Binhadyan ◽  
Indrit Troshani ◽  
Nilmini Wickramasinghe

The key role for IS/IT in e-health has now been well established; however, within e-health the area of e-mental health is still new and emerging and scholars and practitioners alike are dubious as to the role for IS/IT and its benefits. We propose using Actor-network Theory (ANT) to assist in understanding the enabling role in e-mental health and we focus on one area of mental health, adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We focus on Saudi Arabia. Attention to ADHD has begun to gain growing attention from Saudi Arabia healthcare providers and researchers. Currently, there is an estimated 15% of school age children suffering from ADHD. More than half of these children are expected to continue to show the symptoms of ADHD through their adolescence and adulthood. ADHD impacts the quality of life these individuals. Technology has the potential to improve mental health services this can be seen in enabling early intervention or treatment for people with mental health issues. Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in e-health and aiming to build a complete patient electronic record by 2020.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Chutiyami ◽  
Allen M. Y. Cheong ◽  
Dauda Salihu ◽  
Umar Muhammad Bello ◽  
Dorothy Ndwiga ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThis meta-review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of overall mental health of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodWe conducted a comprehensive literature search on Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE. A predefined eligibility criterion was used to screen the articles. The methodology quality of eligible studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for systematic reviews. The data were narratively synthesised in line with the meta-review aim.ResultForty systematic reviews (represented as K = 40), which reported data from 1,828 primary studies (N) and 3,245,768 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The findings from a pooled prevalence indicate that anxiety (16–41%, K = 30, N = 701), depression (14–37%, K = 28, N = 584), and stress/post-traumatic stress disorder (18.6–56.5%, K = 24, N = 327) were the most prevailing COVID-19 pandemic-related mental health conditions affecting healthcare workers. Other reported concerns included insomnia, burnout, fear, obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatization symptoms, phobia, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Considering regions/countries, the highest anxiety was reported in the United-Kingdom [22.3, 95% Confidence Interval (CI):7–38, N = 4] compared to other countries, while the highest depression was in the Middle-East, (41, 95% CI:16–60, N = 5) and stress in the Eastern Mediterranean region (61.6, 95% CI:56.4–66.8, N = 2) compared to other regions. The most significant risk factors include female gender, younger age, being a nurse, and frontline professional. The most-reported coping strategies include individual/group psychological support, family/relative support, training/orientation, and the adequacy of personal protective equipment.ConclusionIt was concluded that healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, allied health) have experienced various mental health issues during COVID-19 pandemic. The meta-review, therefore, recommends targeted interventions and health policies that address specific mental health issues to support health professionals worldwide during the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and similar future health crises.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD4202126200, identifier: CRD42021262001.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andria Pragholapati

Mental health is a state of well-being associated with happiness, joy, satisfaction, achievement,optimism, or hope. While mental disorders are behavioral or psychological patterns that areshown by individuals that cause distress, dysfunction, and reduce the quality of life (Stuart,2013). Based on the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 Year 2014, mental health is acondition where an individual can develop physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially so thatthe individual is aware of his own abilities, can deal with stress, can work productively, and isable to contribute to the community.


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