Smartphone, Social Media, and Mental Health App Use in an Acute Transdiagnostic Psychiatric Sample

Abstract

Background Despite high rates of smartphone ownership in psychiatric populations, there are very little data available characterizing smartphone use in individuals with mental illness. In particular, few studies have examined the interest and use of smartphones to support mental health. Objective This study aimed to (1) characterize general smartphone app and social media usage in an acute transdiagnostic psychiatric sample with high smartphone ownership, (2) characterize current engagement and interest in the use of smartphone apps to support mental health, and (3) test demographic and clinical predictors of smartphone use. Methods The survey was completed by all patients attending an adult partial hospital program, with no exclusion criteria. The primary outcomes were frequency of use of general and mental health smartphone apps (smartphone use survey) and the frequency of social media use and phone-checking behavior (mobile technology engagement scale). Results Overall, 322 patients (aged mean 33.49, SD 13.87 years; 57% female) reported that their most frequently used app functions were texting, email, and social media. Younger individuals reported more frequent use across most types of apps. Baseline depression and anxiety symptoms were not associated with the frequency of app use. Participants reported health care, calendar, and texting apps as most supportive of their mental health and social media apps as most negatively affecting their mental health. Most patients reported an interest in (73.9% [238/322]) and willingness to use (81.3% [262/322]) a smartphone app to monitor their mental health condition. Less than half (44%) of the patients currently had a mental health app downloaded on their smartphone, with mindfulness and meditation apps being the most common type. Conclusions The high interest in and willingness to use mental health apps, paired with the only moderate current reported usage, indicate a potential unmet treatment opportunity in psychiatric populations. There is potential to optimize non-mental health–specific apps to better support the needs of those with mental illness and to design a new wave of mental health apps that match the needs of these populations as well as the way they use smartphones in daily life.

Leveraging Implementation Science to Understand Factors Influencing Sustained Use of Mental Health Apps: a Narrative Review

“…In multiple survey-based studies, the majority of patients with MH diagnoses reported interest in MH apps; however, rates of actual use are considerably lower than reported interest (Beard et al 2019 ; Lipschitz et al 2019 , 2020 ; Torous et al 2014 ). Furthermore, the percentage of people with MH needs reporting having a health app on their phone was much higher than the percentage who reported any use of those apps in the past week (Schueller et al 2018 ).…”

Smartphone-delivered self-management for first-episode psychosis: the ARIES feasibility randomised controlled trial

“…Long-term engagement with My Journey 3 appears a challenge, but low levels of app use is a common phenomenon with market research showing that 62% of users stop using Smartphone apps after 10 or fewer uses. 49 Age has been shown to be an important factor linked to engagement with mental health apps and general Smartphone use, 50 and could partially explain differences in user engagement of My Journey 3. The treatment group, however, featured only a small number of participants from older age groups.…”

“…Age has been shown to be an important factor linked to engagement with mental health apps and general Smartphone use, 50 and could partially explain differences in user engagement of My Journey 3. The treatment group, however, featured only a small number of participants from older age groups.…”

Gamification as an approach to improve resilience and reduce attrition in mobile mental health interventions: A randomized controlled trial

“…Further, many individuals show interest in technology to deal with health-related conditions. For example, survey data indicate that roughly three-quarters of psychiatric patients expressed an interest in using a smartphone to monitor their mental health and willingness to do so [19,20]. However, translation from interest to actual use of apps to manage health-related concerns remains a challenge, as patients tend to use apps only rarely in their daily routine [21].…”