Cited by 24Digital Mental Health InterventionsMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsMobile Health and mHealth Applications

Mind-body internet and mobile-based interventions for depression and anxiety in adults with chronic physical conditions: A systematic review of RCTs

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Johnson, Emily, Corrick, Shaina, Isley, Serena, Vandermeer, Ben, Dolgoy, Naomi, Bates, Jack, Godfrey, Elana, Soltys, Cassidy +3 more·2024·PLOS Digital Health

Abstract

This review summarizes the effectiveness of scalable mind-body internet and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) on depression and anxiety symptoms in adults living with chronic physical conditions. Six databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, EMBASE, CINAHL, and CENTRAL) were searched for randomized controlled trials published from database inception to March 2023. Mind-body IMIs included cognitive behavioral therapy, breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, yoga or Tai-chi. To focus on interventions with a greater potential for scale, the intervention delivery needed to be online with no or limited facilitation by study personnel. The primary outcome was mean change scores for anxiety and depression (Hedges’ g ). In subgroup analyses, random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect size estimates based on personnel support level, intervention techniques, chronic physical condition, and survey type. Meta-regression was conducted on age and intervention length. Fifty-six studies met inclusion criteria (sample size 7691, mean age of participants 43 years, 58% female): 30% (n = 17) neurological conditions, 12% (n = 7) cardiovascular conditions, 11% cancer (n = 6), 43% other chronic physical conditions (n = 24), and 4% (n = 2) multiple chronic conditions. Mind-body IMIs demonstrated statistically significant pooled reductions in depression ( SMD = -0.33 [-0.40, -0.26], p<0.001) and anxiety ( SMD = -0.26 [-0.36, -0.17], p<0.001). Heterogeneity was moderate. Scalable mind-body IMIs hold promise as interventions for managing anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with chronic physical conditions without differences seen with age or intervention length. While modest, the effect sizes are comparable to those seen with pharmacological therapy. The field would benefit from detailed reporting of participant demographics including those related to technological proficiency, as well as further evaluation of non-CBT interventions. Registration: The study is registered with PROSPERO ID # CRD42022375606 .

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  • Without distinguishing between self-guided and minimally facilitated interventions, moderate-in-magnitude effects on depression and anxiety have been found for internet and mobile-based interventions delivered to adults with chronic physical conditions.

    “Without distinguishing between interventions that are self-guided and those that are minimally facilitated by expert personnel, moderate-in-magnitude effects on depression and anxiety have been found for internet and mobile-based interventions delivered to adults with chronic physical conditions [16].”

    From Evolution of Primary Research Studies in Digital Interventions for Mental Well-Being Promotion from 2004 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on the Web of Science (2024) · cites this paper as [16]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports pooled benefits for depression and anxiety across self-guided and minimally supported interventions, with no discernible difference between those groups. It calls the effects small, however, not moderate in magnitude; the reported moderate heterogeneity does not describe effect size. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. World Health Organization, 2005, Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment: WHO global report
  2. M Roser, 2021, Burden of disease, Published online at OurWorldInDataorg
  3. NNC Institute, 2022, Mind-Body Practice, NIH NCI Dictionaries
  4. Covidence Systematic Review Software. Veritas Health Innovation. Melbourne, Australia. 2022.
  5. The Cochrane Collaboration. Review Manager (RevMan). 5.4 ed2020.
  6. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US), 2008, AHRQ Methods for Effective Health Care Handling Continuous Outcomes in Quantitative Synthesis, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

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Authors
Johnson, E., Corrick, S., Isley, S., Vandermeer, B., Dolgoy, N., Bates, J., Godfrey, E., Soltys, C., Muir, C., Vohra, S., & Tandon, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Alberta (CA)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Tandon, Puneeta
Venue
PLOS Digital Health
Published
2024-01-23
Volume
3
Issue
1
Pages
e0000435
ISSN
2767-3170 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4391131595
Cited by
24
References
136
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7
FWCI
1.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLOS Digital Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (RES0057213)
  • Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research unit Pragmatic Clinical trials Platform (RES0048995)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Keywords
mind-body interventions, online intervention, mobile health intervention, depression, anxiety, chronic physical illness, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, breathwork, scalability

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