Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review
BackgroundDigital health interventions (DHIs) are efficacious for several mental disorders in youth; however, integrated, evidence-based knowledge about the mechanisms of change in these interventions is lacking. ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to comprehensi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e29742 |
| _version_ | 1797735513697812480 |
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| author | Matthias Domhardt Sophie Engler Hannah Nowak Arne Lutsch Amit Baumel Harald Baumeister |
| author_facet | Matthias Domhardt Sophie Engler Hannah Nowak Arne Lutsch Amit Baumel Harald Baumeister |
| author_sort | Matthias Domhardt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundDigital health interventions (DHIs) are efficacious for several mental disorders in youth; however, integrated, evidence-based knowledge about the mechanisms of change in these interventions is lacking.
ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to comprehensively evaluate studies on mediators and mechanisms of change in different DHIs for common mental disorders in children and adolescents.
MethodsA systematic literature search of the electronic databases Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO was conducted, complemented by backward and forward searches. Two independent reviewers selected studies for inclusion, extracted the data, and rated the methodological quality of eligible studies (ie, risk of bias and 8 quality criteria for process research).
ResultsA total of 25 studies that have evaluated 39 potential mediators were included in this review. Cognitive mediators were the largest group of examined intervening variables, followed by a broad range of emotional and affective, interpersonal, parenting behavior, and other mediators. The mediator categories with the highest percentages of significant intervening variables were the groups of affective mediators (4/4, 100%) and combined cognitive mediators (13/19, 68%). Although more than three-quarters of the eligible studies met 5 or more quality criteria, causal conclusions have been widely precluded.
ConclusionsThe findings of this review might guide the empirically informed advancement of DHIs, contributing to improved intervention outcomes, and the discussion of methodological recommendations for process research might facilitate mediation studies with more pertinent designs, allowing for conclusions with higher causal certainty in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:00:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-271a977d41b04211b821f6bec4613a25 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:00:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-271a977d41b04211b821f6bec4613a252023-08-28T19:51:58ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712021-11-012311e2974210.2196/29742Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic ReviewMatthias Domhardthttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-8926Sophie Englerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5867-9552Hannah Nowakhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1017-697XArne Lutschhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9432-6620Amit Baumelhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7043-8898Harald Baumeisterhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2040-661X BackgroundDigital health interventions (DHIs) are efficacious for several mental disorders in youth; however, integrated, evidence-based knowledge about the mechanisms of change in these interventions is lacking. ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to comprehensively evaluate studies on mediators and mechanisms of change in different DHIs for common mental disorders in children and adolescents. MethodsA systematic literature search of the electronic databases Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO was conducted, complemented by backward and forward searches. Two independent reviewers selected studies for inclusion, extracted the data, and rated the methodological quality of eligible studies (ie, risk of bias and 8 quality criteria for process research). ResultsA total of 25 studies that have evaluated 39 potential mediators were included in this review. Cognitive mediators were the largest group of examined intervening variables, followed by a broad range of emotional and affective, interpersonal, parenting behavior, and other mediators. The mediator categories with the highest percentages of significant intervening variables were the groups of affective mediators (4/4, 100%) and combined cognitive mediators (13/19, 68%). Although more than three-quarters of the eligible studies met 5 or more quality criteria, causal conclusions have been widely precluded. ConclusionsThe findings of this review might guide the empirically informed advancement of DHIs, contributing to improved intervention outcomes, and the discussion of methodological recommendations for process research might facilitate mediation studies with more pertinent designs, allowing for conclusions with higher causal certainty in the future.https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e29742 |
| spellingShingle | Matthias Domhardt Sophie Engler Hannah Nowak Arne Lutsch Amit Baumel Harald Baumeister Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review |
| title_full | Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review |
| title_short | Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review |
| title_sort | mechanisms of change in digital health interventions for mental disorders in youth systematic review |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e29742 |
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