The Use and Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Depression: Results From a Fully Remote Clinical Trial
Initiatives
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The objective of our study was to document and compare use patterns and clinical outcomes across the United States between 3 different self-guided mobile apps for depression.
Note: All published information has been collected from the article referenced in the Marker Paper box below. Therefore, there may be variations with more advanced versions of the study.
- Start Year
- 2014
- Funding
- Support for this research was provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (PAA R34-MH100466, T32MH0182607, K24MH074717). PAA had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Design
- Study design
- Clinical trial cohort
Marker Paper
Arean PA, Hallgren KA, Jordan JT, et al. The Use and Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Depression: Results From a Fully Remote Clinical Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2016;18(12):e330. Published 2016 Dec 20. doi:10.2196/jmir.6482
PUBMED 27998876
Recruitment
- Sources of Recruitment
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- Individuals
Number of participants
- Number of participants
- 626
- Number of participants with biosamples
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Data | |
| Biosamples | |
| Other |
Timeline
Participants with moderate depression
Participants were recruited through Web-based advertisements and social media and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 mood apps. Treatment and assessment were conducted remotely on each participant's smartphone or tablet with minimal contact with study staff. We enrolled 626 English-speaking adults (≥18 years old) with mild to moderate depression as determined by a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥5, or if their score on item 10 was ≥2.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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18
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- United States of America
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
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- moderate depression
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
Number of participants
- Number of participants
- 626
- Number of participants with biosamples
Data Collection Event
The apps were Project: EVO, a cognitive training app theorized to mitigate depressive symptoms by improving cognitive control, iPST, an app based on an evidence-based psychotherapy for depression, and Health Tips, a treatment control. Outcomes were scores on the PHQ-9 and the Sheehan Disability Scale.
- Start Date
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2014-08
- Data sources
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Mobile data collection
- Smartphone
- Smartphone apps
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Mobile data collection