Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review
BackgroundDigital interventions have become an accessible format in clinical practice to provide better support for patients with mental disorders. However, the clinical efficacy in patients with depressive disorders is not well known. We aimed to determine the efficacy of smartphone applications (a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.871966/full |
| _version_ | 1811216090686029824 |
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| author | Alba Hernández-Gómez María José Valdés-Florido Guillermo Lahera Guillermo Lahera Guillermo Lahera Nelson Andrade-González Nelson Andrade-González |
| author_facet | Alba Hernández-Gómez María José Valdés-Florido Guillermo Lahera Guillermo Lahera Guillermo Lahera Nelson Andrade-González Nelson Andrade-González |
| author_sort | Alba Hernández-Gómez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundDigital interventions have become an accessible format in clinical practice to provide better support for patients with mental disorders. However, the clinical efficacy in patients with depressive disorders is not well known. We aimed to determine the efficacy of smartphone applications (apps) in patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder.MethodAn electronic database search was performed of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, to identify relevant articles up to June 12, 2021. Peer-reviewed articles were screened and selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.ResultsSeven articles met the inclusion criteria and therefore were selected for the systematic review, which included a total of 651 patients. The results were heterogeneous, essentially due to the different methodologies used in the selected studies.ConclusionsDigital smartphone-delivered interventions do not appear to reduce depressive symptomatology nor improve the quality of life in patients diagnosed with depressive disorders when compared to an active control group. Taking into account the inherent methodological difficulties and the variability among such studies, it is apparent that further research—with more methodologically refined clinical trials, including larger sample sizes—is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:33:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ad9fdfc6172480682fe773f6c06f51a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:33:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ad9fdfc6172480682fe773f6c06f51a2022-12-22T03:43:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-08-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.871966871966Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic ReviewAlba Hernández-Gómez0María José Valdés-Florido1Guillermo Lahera2Guillermo Lahera3Guillermo Lahera4Nelson Andrade-González5Nelson Andrade-González6Department of Personality, Assessment and Clinical Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainPsychiatry Service, University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, SpainIRyCIS, CIBERSAM, Madrid, SpainPríncipe de Asturias University Hospital, Alcalá de Henares, SpainPsychiatry and Mental Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, SpainFaculty of Medicine, Alfonso X el Sabio University, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, SpainBackgroundDigital interventions have become an accessible format in clinical practice to provide better support for patients with mental disorders. However, the clinical efficacy in patients with depressive disorders is not well known. We aimed to determine the efficacy of smartphone applications (apps) in patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder.MethodAn electronic database search was performed of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, to identify relevant articles up to June 12, 2021. Peer-reviewed articles were screened and selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.ResultsSeven articles met the inclusion criteria and therefore were selected for the systematic review, which included a total of 651 patients. The results were heterogeneous, essentially due to the different methodologies used in the selected studies.ConclusionsDigital smartphone-delivered interventions do not appear to reduce depressive symptomatology nor improve the quality of life in patients diagnosed with depressive disorders when compared to an active control group. Taking into account the inherent methodological difficulties and the variability among such studies, it is apparent that further research—with more methodologically refined clinical trials, including larger sample sizes—is needed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.871966/fulldepressionsmartphoneefficacyappsystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Alba Hernández-Gómez María José Valdés-Florido Guillermo Lahera Guillermo Lahera Guillermo Lahera Nelson Andrade-González Nelson Andrade-González Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review Frontiers in Psychiatry depression smartphone efficacy app systematic review |
| title | Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Efficacy of Smartphone Apps in Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | efficacy of smartphone apps in patients with depressive disorders a systematic review |
| topic | depression smartphone efficacy app systematic review |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.871966/full |
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