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A Hierarchical Framework for Evaluation and Informed Decision Making Regarding Smartphone Apps for Clinical Care
John Blake Torous1, Steven Richard Chan1, Shih Yee-Marie Tan Gipson1
1Dr. Torous and Dr. Nguyen are with the Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr. Chan is with the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Gipson and Dr. Kim are with the Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston. Dr. Luo is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Riverside. Dr. Wang is with the Division of Research, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C. Dror Ben-Zeev, Ph.D., is editor of this column.
Mental health apps are increasingly used by patients with psychiatric conditions. Clinicians should be ready to discuss these apps and guide shared decision-making using a new evaluation framework.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Digital Health
- Mental Healthcare Technology
Background:
- Smartphone applications for mental health are rapidly expanding.
- Patients with psychiatric conditions are actively using these digital tools.
- Clinicians need guidance on addressing patient inquiries about mental health apps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce an evaluation framework for mental health apps.
- To guide clinicians in informed decision-making regarding app use in patient care.
- To facilitate shared decision-making between patients and clinicians on app utilization.
Main Methods:
- Development of an evaluation framework by the American Psychiatric Association.
- Focus on guiding clinical decision-making for mental health app integration.
- Emphasis on preparing clinicians to address patient questions.
Main Results:
- A structured framework is provided for assessing mental health apps.
- The framework aims to support informed clinical judgment.
- Guidance is offered for facilitating patient-clinician discussions.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians must be prepared for the increasing use of mental health apps.
- An evaluation framework can aid in navigating app adoption in psychiatric care.
- Shared decision-making is crucial for integrating digital health tools responsibly.
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