Regulating mobile mental health apps

Mobile medical apps (MMAs) are a fast-growing category of software typically installed on personal smartphones and wearable devices. A subset of MMAs are aimed at helping consumers identify mental states and/or mental illnesses. Although this is a fledgling domain, there are already enough extant mental health MMAs both to suggest a typology and to detail some of the regulatory issues they pose. As to the former, the current generation of apps includes those that facilitate self-assessment or self-help, connect patients with online support groups, connect patients with therapists, or predict mental health issues. Regulatory concerns with these apps include their quality, safety, and data protection. Unfortunately, the regulatory frameworks that apply have failed to provide coherent risk-assessment models. As a result, prudent providers will need to progress with caution when it comes to recommending apps to patients or relying on app-generated data to guide treatment.