A systematic review of dialectical behavior therapy mobile apps for content and usability

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health
• Psychotherapy applications
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Significant treatment gap exists for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
• Mobile apps offer potential to improve access to DBT and supplement in-person therapy.
• This review focuses on the quality and usability of DBT-based mobile applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) mobile apps available in app stores.
• To assess the content quality and usability of these DBT-based applications.
• To identify the availability of DBT apps for both patients and clinicians.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of Google Play and iOS app stores for apps referencing DBT.
• Evaluation of app content and quality.
• Assessment of usability and engagement using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS).

Main Results:

• 21 free DBT apps were identified; 71% included skills training, and 5 had diary features.
• Most apps (76.19%) were designed for standalone use.
• Average user rating was 4.39/5, with a mean MARS score of 3.41; 71.43% were deemed "acceptable."
• Popular apps dominated usage, with the top three having 89.3% of monthly active users.

Conclusions:

• Numerous usable and engaging DBT-based mobile apps are available.
• There is a limited selection of DBT apps designed for clinical use by therapists.
• Future DBT mobile apps require careful development and rigorous clinical evaluation.