Mobile apps for youth anxiety disorders: A review of the evidence and forecast of future innovations.

Abstract

Mobile apps are touted as helpful tools to track and treat mental health difficulties. Growth in this area is particularly relevant for youth and young adults given the pervasive integration of technology into daily life among younger generations. However, there is limited empirical evidence supporting the usability and/or efficacy of mental health apps for youth and young adults with anxiety disorders. This article offers a review of studies that contained qualitative or quantitative data pertaining to a mobile application for the assessment, prevention, or treatment of anxiety in youth. Apps with a broader scope were included if their findings specifically addressed a reduction in anxiety, as were ecological momentary assessment apps that tracked anxiety. In total, 22 articles met full eligibility criteria, providing data on 14 smartphone apps studied with individuals ages 5-28. This review details each of these apps and associated studies, including their features, efficacy data, and app usability. Results indicated that treatment apps have received moderate to high marks in terms of ease of use, acceptability, and overall satisfaction. Assessment apps were rated as easy to use and had moderate to high satisfaction ratings; however, user engagement declined over time. Passive sensing technology provides the potential for smartphone apps to learn user patterns and identify behavioral indicators that map onto changes in mood. Studies reviewed here provide preliminary support for the use of apps as helpful and accessible tools in the assessment and treatment of anxiety in youth. Future directions and apps to watch are discussed. Public Significance StatementThis article reviews the evidence base supporting mobile apps for the assessment and treatment of anxiety in youth and young adults. It provides an early guide for psychologists looking for safe, reliable, and effective mobile tools available to supplement existing treatments.

The growing field of digital psychiatry: current evidence and the future of apps, social media, chatbots, and virtual reality

“…These app‐based interventions often utilize established aspects of cognitive and behavioral therapies to offer patients “on demand” access to evidence‐based care tools. Examples abound of studies targeting mental health problems such as depression and anxiety 40‐43 , and early psychosis and schizophrenia 44,45 , that have been the subject of previous reviews 46‐51 . The existing clinical evidence for digital health interventions across specific disorders is reviewed in more detail in the second section of this paper.…”

“…The strongest evidence of effectiveness of DHTs for children and young people is reported for approaches using comput erized or Internet cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) 49,188 . A metaanalysis of 34 randomized controlled trials for depression or anxiety in child and adolescent populations supported the ef fectiveness of iCBTbased interventions in comparison to waitlist controls 189 .…”

Classification of Anxiety Based on EDA and HR

“…Moreover, these biomedical sensors are often wireless and can stream to several and small devices, like smartphones, supporting the feasibility of the analysis of physiological signals and assisting with suggestions to deal with anxiety. Indeed, more recently, due to the increasing concern on mental disorders, namely anxiety, and to the technological advances which widespread the access and usage of mobile devices, there had been proposed mobile applications to help users dealing with anxiety [4,16,19,21].…”

“…More recently, [19] provides a review supporting the use of mobile apps as helpful and accessible tools in the assessment and treatment of anxiety in youth. Although, the overall good results concerning ease of use and acceptability, and high satisfaction ratings, the authors pointed out the burdensome of user engagement over time, as well the work [8].…”

Mixed Results on the Efficacy of the CharacterMe Smartphone App to Improve Self-Control, Patience, and Emotional Regulation Competencies in Adolescents

“…However, few such apps exist for youth. Numerous digital mental health interventions focus on ameliorating symptoms of mental illness and other physical health problems in children and adolescents (Liverpool et al, 2020 ; Temkin et al, 2020 ), but most of these do not focus on promoting more general socioemotional skills or character strengths in non-distressed populations. At the time of our app development, several scientifically vetted apps on the open marketplace delivered positive psychology interventions to adults.…”