Are Mobile Phones and Handheld Computers Being Used to Enhance Delivery of Psychiatric Treatment?: A Systematic Review
Abstract
The rapid diffusion of communication technology has provided opportunities to enhance the delivery of mental health care. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to conduct a qualitative review of randomized controlled trials that reported on the efficacy of mobile phones or handheld computers used to enhance the treatment of psychiatric disorders. We identified eight randomized controlled trials. Five studies used mobile phones to target smoking cessation. Those receiving the smoking cessation intervention were significantly more likely to achieve abstinence compared with those under the control condition. Three studies used non-personal digital assistant (PDA) handheld computers targeting anxiety. Compared with those in the control condition, those who received the non-PDA handheld computer intervention had significant improvement in anxiety outcomes in only one of the three studies. The limited number of rigorous evaluations of mobile phone, PDA, or smartphone interventions for mental health problems underscores the opportunities to enhance our interventions using the available tools of contemporary technology.
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No new studies targeting social phobia or panic disorder were located in the present study since the review conducted by Ehrenreich et al. in June 2010.
“Despite this, no new studies targeting social phobia or panic disorder were located in the present study since the review conducted by Ehrenreich et al.20 in June 2010.”
From Effectiveness of mobile technologies delivering Ecological Momentary Interventions for stress and anxiety: A systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as [20]
Other broader reviews have previously noted that more trials are needed on the effectiveness of EMI.
“Other broader reviews have previously noted that more trials are needed on the effectiveness of EMI. 8,20”
From Effectiveness of mobile technologies delivering Ecological Momentary Interventions for stress and anxiety: A systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as [20]
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- Authors
- Ehrenreich, B., Righter, B., Rocke, D. A., Dixon, L., & Himelhoch, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
- Published
- 2011-11
- Volume
- 199
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 886-891
- ISSN
- 0022-3018 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1967366293
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 8.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Keywords
- mobile devices, personal digital assistants, virtual assistants, smartphone-based intervention, smoking cessation, anxiety, mental health technology, telemedicine
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety Disorders, Humans, Psychotherapy, Smoking Cessation, Treatment Outcome, Computers, Handheld, Cell Phone
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