mHealth in psychiatry: time for methodological change

Area of Science:

• Digital health
• Mental health technology
• mHealth research

Background:

• Numerous mental health applications are accessible via app stores.
• There is a significant lack of empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of these mobile health (mHealth) interventions.
• This gap hinders the effective integration of digital tools into mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the deficit in evidence for mental health apps.
• To propose alternative research methodologies better suited for mHealth evaluation.
• To explore strategies for disseminating information on app quality to consumers.

Main Methods:

• Critique of the traditional randomized controlled trial (RCT) paradigm for app evaluation.
• Advocacy for iterative participatory research and single-case designs.
• Discussion of dissemination strategies for evidence-informed mHealth resources.

Main Results:

• The current research evaluation paradigm, primarily randomized controlled trials, is unsuitable for mHealth.
• Iterative participatory research and single-case designs align better with mHealth translational needs.
• Effective dissemination strategies require consideration of target audience and context.

Conclusions:

• Abandoning the randomized controlled trial as the primary evaluation method is recommended for mHealth.
• Adopting alternative research methodologies is crucial for advancing mHealth.
• Developing robust dissemination strategies is vital to capitalize on consumer interest in mental health apps and improve access for psychiatric populations.