Mobile Applications for Mental Health Self-care: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arfan Ahmed ◽  
Nashva Ali ◽  
Anna Giannicchi ◽  
Alaa A Abd-Alrazaq ◽  
Mohamed Ali Siddig Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Web Based

BACKGROUND Background: Over the past decade, there has been a steady increase of the number of mobile and web-based applications that enable patients with mental disorders to self-regulate their mental health needs, to feel autonomous, and to take responsibility for their own care. To the best of our knowledge, no current reviews explore the features of self-care applications used for mental disorders. OBJECTIVE Objective: The purpose of this review is to explore the characteristics of novel mobile applications utilized for mental health self-care. METHODS Methods: A scoping review of literature was conducted. The search sources consisted of searching 6 electronic databases (e.g., Medline, PsychINFO) and conducting backward and forward reference list checking. Rayyan software was used for this study selection process. One reviewer checked the eligibility of the retrieved studies and extracted data from the included studies. A narrative approach was used to synthesize the extracted data. RESULTS Results: 2,744 citations were identified by searching the electronic databases. Of those, 15 studies were included in this review. Twelve studies used mobile applications while the remaining three studies used web-based applications. Applications in most of the included studies targeted depression (9/15, 60%). Only two types of study designs were identified from the included studies: Randomized control trials (10/15, 67%) and Usability and feasibility studies (5/15, 33%). Six studies had a sample size of less than 50 while six studies had a sample size of more than 200. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion: While many mobile apps have been developed to promote self-care, there is a gap in the current literature discussing the validity of such mental health resources. We were only able to identify 15 such studies from our initial search returning 2744 studies. As such, this review will ideally encourage developers to produce future, empirically reviewed apps that rise to the challenge of both being user-friendly as well as scientifically valid.

Anxiety and Depression Chatbot Features: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arfan Ahmed ◽  
Asmaa Hassan ◽  
Alaa A Abd-Alrazaq ◽  
Nashva Ali ◽  
Sarah Aziz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
World Population ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Virtual Assistance

BACKGROUND Apps and web-based chatbots can provide valuable and meaningful support to healthcare workers in assessing and guiding management of various health problems particularly when human resources are scarce. Despite poor adherence to such apps, chatbots can be cost-effective and efficient on-demand virtual assistants for various mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. OBJECTIVE This study aims to review the features of chatbots currently available for individuals with suspected anxiety or depression. METHODS ACM digital library, IEEE, Google Scholar, Embase, Medline, and PsychINFO were the six bibliographic databases searched for conducting the review. We conducted backward and forward reference list checking of included studies. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently; two other individual reviewers justified cross-checking of extracted data. We utilized a narrative approach for synthesizing the data. RESULTS The initial search returned a total of 917 citations. A total of 32 studies remained on filtering the publications, which formed the final dataset for this scoping review. While most of the studies were from conference proceedings (69%, n=22), the remainder were either journal articles (16%, n=5), reports (9%, n=3), or book chapters (6%, n=2). Of the studies that developed an actual chatbot, 16% (n=7) were web based and 63% (n=20) stand-alone in the form of an app. The remainder were available on both platforms or were only conceptual ideas. About half of the reviewed chatbots had functionality targeting both anxiety and depression (56%, n=18), whereas 38% (n=12) targeted only depression, 3% (n=1) anxiety and the remaining addressed other mental health issues along with anxiety and depression like public speaking anxiety, stress, lack of motivation, negative emotion, nervousness. Input modality of most of the chatbots was written (84%, n=27), followed by spoken (25%, n=8) and visual imaging (9%, n=3). Despite the fact of increasing popularity of embodiment techniques in chatbots such as avatars were rarely used in these studies only 34% (n=11) CONCLUSIONS Recent research shows that mental health chatbots could be of benefit in helping patients with anxiety and depression and provide valuable support to mental healthcare workers, particularly when resources are scarce. They often provide virtual assistance where medical professionals are inaccessible or users need anonymous real-time personal virtual assistance. Their role in mental health care is expected to increase following the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mental health and wellbeing of the world population.

scholarly journals Mobile Applications for Mental Health Self-care: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 100041
Author(s):  
Arfan Ahmed ◽  
Nashva Ali ◽  
Anna Giannicchi ◽  
Alaa A Abd-alrazaq ◽  
Mohamed Ali Siddig Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Self Care

scholarly journals Explorando o uso de aplicativos móveis para autogestão do tratamento em saúde mental: scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. e56
Author(s):  
Maria Do Perpétuo Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega ◽  
Priscila Campos Tibúrcio ◽  
Mariana Coronato Fernandes ◽  
Carla Sílvia Neves da Nova Fernandes ◽  
Célia Samarina Vilaça de Brito Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Self Monitoring

Objetivo: mapear a literatura científica produzida sobre aplicativos móveis para a autogestão do tratamento em saúde mental. Método: revisão de escopo realizada em cinco bases em português, inglês ou espanhol em novembro de 2020 com os descritores mental health, mental illness, mental disorder, psychiatric illness, mobile applications, app, self care, self management e self monitoring. Resultados: encontraram-se 46 artigos relacionados, em sua maioria, com desenvolvimento, eficácia, percepção dos usuários ou busca de aplicativos em lojas especializadas e com foco no automonitoramento do humor (13%) ou gestão de doenças mentais, em geral (23,9%). Conclusão: os estudos evidenciaram variedade e eficácia de aplicativos móveis para diferentes transtornos mentais. A construção de novos aplicativos para autogestão em SM deve ser sustentada em evidências, com participação do público e com amostras representativas que, de fato, retratem as expectativas e motivações do usuário para o uso dessas tecnologias na autogestão de seu tratamento.

scholarly journals Alcohol and drug abuse as a manifestation of social stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
VA Semyonova ◽  
TP Sabgayda ◽  
AV Zubko ◽  
AE Ivanova ◽  
GN Evdokushkina
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Undetermined Intent ◽  
Alcohol And Drug Abuse ◽  
Health Deterioration ◽  
Excess Deaths

Abstract   During the pandemic, deaths associated with mental health deterioration due to social stress have contributed to excess mortality. The purpose of the study is to evaluate changes in mortality from causes associated with social stress during the pandemic in Moscow. The analysis is based on the Rosstat statistics and RFS-EMIAS database (Medical death certificates issued by the Moscow health institutions) in 2019-2020. Deaths from mental disorders and suicides during the maximum and minimum excess mortality in Moscow in 2020 were compared to 2019 (May and December, when mortality exceeded the 2019 indicators by 57.2% and 56.7%, and July with the 7.1%) excess. First, the excess mortality from mental disorders in these months was almost entirely due to disorders related to alcohol and drug abuse. Second, alcohol and drug abuse also results in deaths from poisoning. This necessitates a joint evaluation of deaths associated with alcohol and drugs (from mental disorders and poisoning). The evaluation shows that excess deaths from alcohol abuse in men in May 2020 compared to May 2019 equaled to 65%, falling down to 52.3% in July, followed by its maximum (2.5-fold) in December. Females show a steady increase: 52.9%, 76.5% and 2.1-fold, respectively. Distribution by sex of the total deaths associated with drug addiction (mental disorders and poisoning) was reversed: a steady increase in males (55.4% in May, 67% in July and 2.1-fold in December) and a significant decrease in females: 63.6%, 31.6% and 2.7-fold, respectively. Third, the pandemic has paradoxically affected deaths from suicide (including hangings, falls and undetermined intent poisoning). In men, excess deaths equaled to zero in May, 1.2% in July and decreased by 20.6% in December. The female excess suicidal mortality increased: 13.5%, 30.6% and 36.7%, respectively. Thus, the male reaction to social stress caused by the pandemic was passive (alcohol and drug abuse), while the female reaction was aggravated by suicides. Key messages During the pandemic, deaths associated with mental health deterioration due to social stress contributed to excess mortality. Alcohol and drug abuse results in deaths not only due to mental disorders.

Nutrition interventions in populations with mental health conditions: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 687-697
Author(s):  
Stephana J. Cherak ◽  
Kirsten M. Fiest ◽  
Laura VanderSluis ◽  
Carlota Basualdo-Hammond ◽  
Diane L. Lorenzetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Nutrition Interventions ◽  
Positive Effects

Nutrition is a modifiable factor for intervention in mental disorders. This scoping review characterized nutrition intervention research in mental disorders. A 3-category framework characterized nutrition interventions: Guide (e.g., counselling), Provide (e.g., food provisions), and Add (e.g., supplementation). Nutrition interventions were classified as single-component (e.g., Guide) or complex (e.g., Guide-Provide). Sixty-nine trials met inclusion criteria, 96% were randomized controlled trials. Most commonly diagnosed mental disorders were depressive disorder (i.e., persistent) or major depressive disorder (n = 39), schizophrenia (n = 17), and other psychotic disorders (n = 13). Few trials included patients with anxiety disorders (n = 2) or bipolar disorders (n = 3). Several trials (n = 15, 22%) assessed and implemented nutrition interventions to improve dietary patterns, of which 11 (73%) reported statistically significant and clinically important positive effects of nutrition interventions on mental disorders. The majority of the trials (n = 61, 90%) investigated supplementation, most commonly adding essential fatty acids, vitamins, or minerals. The majority (n = 48, 70%) reported either statistically significant or clinically important effect and 31 (51%) reported both. Though most interventions led to statistically significant improvements, trials were heterogeneous for targeted mental disorders, nutrition interventions, and outcomes assessed. Given considerable heterogeneity, further research from robust and clinically relevant trials is required to support high-quality health care with effective nutrition interventions. Novelty Future research on whole-diet interventions powered to detect changes in mental health outcomes as primary objectives is needed. Dietitians may be an opportunity to improve feasibility and efficacy of nutrition interventions for mental disorder patients. Dietitians may be of value to educate mental health practitioners on the importance of nutrition.

scholarly journals Exercise interventions for mental disorders in young people: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela C Pascoe ◽  
Alan P Bailey ◽  
Melinda Craike ◽  
Tim Carter ◽  
Rhiannon Patten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Exercise Interventions

AimsThis scoping review determines the breadth and outcomes of controlled trials testing the effect of physical activity/exercise interventions across mental health outcomes in young people with a mental disorder.MethodsThe literature search was conducted using the open-access ‘Evidence Finder’, a comprehensive youth mental health-specific database that is systematically populated from MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane CENTRAL databases.ResultsSixteen publications were identified after meeting the following eligibility criteria: (1) participants were young people (mean age 12–25.9 years) with a mental disorder diagnosed by a trained clinician or by reaching a predefined cut score on a symptom measure, (2) interventions were exercise, (3) designs were randomised or non-randomised controlled trials, (4) outcomes were mental health related. Eight studies included young people with depression, three included people with psychosis/schizophrenia, three included people with eating disorders and two included people with anxiety. The available evidence suggests that moderate-to-vigorous-intensity exercise may be beneficial, particularly for reducing depression. The available evidence for other intervention intensities, and for other mental disorders, is mixed.ConclusionsOverall, the evidence regarding the impact of exercise interventions on a range of mental health outcomes in clinical populations of young people with various mental disorders looks promising but requires further development. Findings from this scoping review can inform the development of future exercise interventions in the youth mental health field.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of listening to the Holy Quran to improve mental disorders and psychological well-being: Systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa Abd-alrazaq ◽  
Ashraf A Malkawi ◽  
Ahmed H Maabreh ◽  
Tanvir Alam ◽  
Bridgette M Bewick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Complementary Therapy ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Psychological Well Being

Abstract Background: Listening to the Quran is one of spiritual therapies that have been used for treating mental disorders. Many studies have been conducted to assess the effect of listening to the Quran on mental health and psychological wellbeing. Several reviews were conducted to summarise results of such evidence. However, they either focused on studies published in a certain country (Iran), focused on certain setting (intensive care unit), or were written by Persian language. Moreover, none of them synthesised results of studies statistically.Objective: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of listening to the Quran to improve mental disorders and psychological well-being by summarizing and pooling the findings of previous literature.Methods: A systematic review was conducted to accomplish this objective. The search sources included 6 bibliographic databases (e.g., MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINHAL), the search engine “Google Scholar”, and backward and forward reference list checking of the included studies and relevant reviews. Two reviewers independently carried out the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality of evidence evaluation. Results of the included studies were synthesized narratively and statistically, as appropriate.Results: Of 1724 citations retrieved, 11 studies met the eligibility criteria. Of these studies, 7 were included in meta-analysis. The evidence showed that listening to the Quran is significantly effective in improving state anxiety, trait anxiety, general anxiety, depression, stress and mental health. However, the evidence quality ranged from very low to low due to the high risk of bias, heterogeneity, and impression.Conclusion: Listening to the Quran has the potential to improve mental disorders and psychological well-being. Until high-quality studies approve its effect, health professionals and individuals should consider listening to the Quran as a complementary therapy to already available interventions. Researchers should conduct further studies to compare the effectiveness of reciting and listening to the Quran and Al-Ruqya Al-Shariya with active interventions on mental disorders and psychological well-being among Muslims and non-Muslims from different countries.

An overview of the features of technologies implemented during the first wave of COVID-19: A scoping review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa Abd-Alrazaq ◽  
Asmaa Hassan ◽  
Israa Abuelezz ◽  
Arfan Ahmed ◽  
Mahmood Alzubaidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Common Purpose ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

BACKGROUND Technology has been extensively implemented in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). While several reviews were conducted regarding technologies used during COVID-19, they were limited either by focusing on a certain technology or feature, or by technology that was proposed rather than implemented. OBJECTIVE This review aims to explore the features of technologies implemented during the first wave of COVID-19 as reported in the literature. METHODS The authors conducted a scoping review following the guidelines of PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies were retrieved through searching 8 electronic databases and conducting backward and forward reference list checking. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data from the included articles. We then used a narrative approach to synthesize the extracted data. RESULTS Of 7,374 retrieved studies, 126 were deemed eligible. Telemedicine was the most common type of technology (85%) implemented in the first wave of COVID-19. The most common mode of telemedicine was synchronous (93.5%). The most common purpose of the technologies was providing consultation (59.5%), followed by following up with patients (35.7%) and monitoring their health status (17.4%). Zoom (17.5%) and WhatsApp (9.5%) were the most common social media and video-conferencing platforms. Both healthcare professionals and health consumers were the most common target users (81.7%). The health condition most frequently targeted by the implemented technologies was COVID-19 (30.2%), followed by any physical health conditions (16.7%) and mental health conditions (10.3%). Technologies were web-based in 84.1% of the included studies. Technologies in the included studies could be used through 11 venues. The most common venue of technologies was mobile applications (68.3%), followed by desktop applications (57.9%), telephone calls (38.9%), and websites (35.7%). CONCLUSIONS Technology played a crucial role in mitigating the COVID-19 challenges. Our review did not find other technologies that were implemented during the first wave of COVID-19 (e.g., contact-tracing apps, drones, blockchain). Further, technologies in this review were used for other purposes (e.g., drugs and vaccines discovery, social distancing, and immunity passport). Future research on studies about such technologies and purposes is recommended. Further reviews are required to investigate technologies implemented in the following waves of COVID-19.

Physical health among patients with common mental health disorders in primary care in Europe: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
F. Fogarty ◽  
G. McCombe ◽  
K. Brown ◽  
T. Van Amelsvoort ◽  
M. Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Hand Search ◽  
Health Disorders

Introduction: Mental disorders are increasingly common among adults in both the developed and developing world and are predicted by the WHO to be the leading cause of disease burden by 2030. Many common physical conditions are more common among people who also have a common mental disorder. This scoping review aims to examine the current literature about the prevention, identification and treatment of physical problems among people with pre-existing mental health disorders in primary care in Europe. Methods: The scoping review framework comprised a five-stage process developed by Arksey & O’Malley (2005). The search process was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included, with no restriction on study design. Results: The initial search identified 299 studies, with a further 28 added from the hand-search (total n = 327) of which 19 were considered relevant to the review research question and included for full analysis. Depression was the mental health condition most commonly studied (nine studies), followed by depression and anxiety (seven studies), with three studies examining any mental disorder. Eleven studies examined the effects of various interventions to address physical and mental comorbidity, with the most commonly studied intervention being collaborative care. Conclusions: With just 19 studies meeting our criteria for inclusion, there is clearly a paucity of research in this area. Further research is essential in order to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the association between mental disorders and chronic conditions.

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