Does Using a Mindfulness App Reduce Anxiety and Worry? A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Abbott, Deah; Lack, Caleb W.; Anderson, Page L.

doi:10.1891/jcpsy-d-20-00058

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 68 publications

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“…Three studies found an effect favoring the intervention group, with small to large effect sizes 45 , 46 , 53 , and one of these had an active control group 53 . Two studies that found that neither group improved were underpowered 52 , 54 . Studies that found a between-group difference (versus none) had samples with a greater female composition.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of mindfulness apps on psychological processes of change: a systematic review

Macrynikola,

Mir,

Gopal

et al. 2024

npj Mental Health Res

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Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy for various psychological conditions, and smartphone apps that facilitate mindfulness practice can enhance the reach and impact of MBIs. The goal of this review was to summarize the published evidence on the impact of mindfulness apps on the psychological processes known to mediate transdiagnostic symptom reduction after mindfulness practice. A literature search from January 1, 1993, to August 7, 2023 was conducted on three databases, and 28 randomized controlled trials involving 5963 adults were included. Across these 28 studies, 67 outcome comparisons were made between a mindfulness app group and a control group. Between-group effects tended to favor the mindfulness app group over the control group in three psychological process domains: repetitive negative thinking, attention regulation, and decentering/defusion. Findings were mixed in other domains (i.e., awareness, nonreactivity, non-judgment, positive affect, and acceptance). The range of populations examined, methodological concerns across studies, and problems with sustained app engagement likely contributed to mixed findings. However, effect sizes tended to be moderate to large when effects were found, and gains tended to persist at follow-up assessments two to six months later. More research is needed to better understand the impact of these apps on psychological processes of change. Clinicians interested in integrating apps into care should consider app-related factors beyond evidence of a clinical foundation and use app databases to identify suitable apps for their patients, as highlighted at the end of this review.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of mindfulness apps on psychological processes of change: a systematic review

Macrynikola,

Mir,

Gopal

et al. 2024

npj Mental Health Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Computer-assisted Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mobile Apps for Depression and Anxiety: Evidence-based Digital Tools for Clinical Practice

Rajeshkumar,

Mishkind,

Coleman

et al. 2024

Journal of Psychiatric Practice

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Purpose of Review: Provider shortages and other barriers to traditional mental health care have led to the development of technology-based services designed to enhance access and improve the efficiency and convenience of treatment. We reviewed research on computer-assisted cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT) and mobile mental health applications to assess the effectiveness of these methods of delivering or augmenting treatment, evaluating patient and provider uptake, and making recommendations on the clinical use of these tools in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Results: Research on CCBT has found solid evidence for efficacy when the use of a therapeutic computer program is supported by a clinician or other helping professional. Lower levels of efficacy have been found when CCBT is used as a stand-alone treatment. Current CCBT programs have many desirable features; however, few of the current programs incorporate services such as artificial intelligence that have the potential to help improve communication with patients. An increasing number of mobile apps have been created that claim to be useful for depression and/or anxiety, yet caution is warranted before using most due to limited research on effectiveness, low retention rates, and other issues like safety concerns. Summary: Growth in the development of CCBT and mental health applications for depression/anxiety has provided several tools that could enhance treatment delivery. A large number of randomized, controlled trials have documented the effectiveness of CCBT, while research on mobile apps has been much less robust. The advantages and disadvantages of these digital technologies are identified, and recommendations are made for clinical use.

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Does Using a Mindfulness App Reduce Anxiety and Worry? A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Cited by 2 publications

References 68 publications

The impact of mindfulness apps on psychological processes of change: a systematic review

The impact of mindfulness apps on psychological processes of change: a systematic review

Computer-assisted Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mobile Apps for Depression and Anxiety: Evidence-based Digital Tools for Clinical Practice

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