Feasibility and implementation of depression and trauma-focused mobile apps in integrated primary care clinics:...

Integrated primary care (IPC) settings serve as primary access points for mental health care, particularly for underserved populations that face barriers to traditional care. This brief report investigates the feasibility and practical implementation of two mobile health (mHealth) applications, MindLAMP and BounceBackNow, deployed in IPC settings. MindLAMP was selected for its evidence-based design tailored to support patients with depression, offering tools for mood tracking, cognitive behavioral strategies, and personalized feedback. BounceBackNow was chosen due to its focus on trauma-related symptoms, providing psychoeducational resources, symptom monitoring, and coping strategies specifically designed for individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress. Both apps were selected for their user-centered design, accessibility, and alignment with IPC goals of improving mental health access for underserved populations.

The apps were deployed to support patients with depression and trauma-related symptoms, offering a digital tool to complement in-person therapy sessions. Both patient outcome measures and individual interview data from behavioral health providers and other clinical staff members were collected and analyzed.

Despite the promising potential of these apps, the studies faced significant challenges, including low patient recruitment, technical barriers, and time constraints for health care providers.

The findings highlight the need for comprehensive strategies to integrate digital health tools into existing health care systems. Future directions and lessons learned include addressing organizational barriers, enhancing provider training, and exploring community-based engagement strategies to improve patient adoption and sustained use of mHealth apps. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).