Time to Have Effective Regulation of the Mental Health Apps Market: Maximize Gains and Minimize Harms

Singh, Simrandeep; Sagar, Rajesh

doi:10.1177/02537176221082902

Cited by 16 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…However, most research studies in this area are conducted and published in higher-income countries, and samples may not be representative of the wider SMI population [ 41 ]. Individual reports from researchers in LMICs suggest that engagement is also challenging in these settings [ 42 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Mental Health for Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses: An International Consensus on Current Challenges and Potential Solutions

Smith,

Hardy,

Vinnikova

et al. 2024

JMIR Ment Health

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Background Digital approaches may be helpful in augmenting care to address unmet mental health needs, particularly for schizophrenia and severe mental illness (SMI). Objective An international multidisciplinary group was convened to reach a consensus on the challenges and potential solutions regarding collecting data, delivering treatment, and the ethical challenges in digital mental health approaches for schizophrenia and SMI. Methods The consensus development panel method was used, with an in-person meeting of 2 groups: the expert group and the panel. Membership was multidisciplinary including those with lived experience, with equal participation at all stages and coproduction of the consensus outputs and summary. Relevant literature was shared in advance of the meeting, and a systematic search of the recent literature on digital mental health interventions for schizophrenia and psychosis was completed to ensure that the panel was informed before the meeting with the expert group. Results Four broad areas of challenge and proposed solutions were identified: (1) user involvement for real coproduction; (2) new approaches to methodology in digital mental health, including agreed standards, data sharing, measuring harms, prevention strategies, and mechanistic research; (3) regulation and funding issues; and (4) implementation in real-world settings (including multidisciplinary collaboration, training, augmenting existing service provision, and social and population-focused approaches). Examples are provided with more detail on human-centered research design, lived experience perspectives, and biomedical ethics in digital mental health approaches for SMI. Conclusions The group agreed by consensus on a number of recommendations: (1) a new and improved approach to digital mental health research (with agreed reporting standards, data sharing, and shared protocols), (2) equal emphasis on social and population research as well as biological and psychological approaches, (3) meaningful collaborations across varied disciplines that have previously not worked closely together, (4) increased focus on the business model and product with planning and new funding structures across the whole development pathway, (5) increased focus and reporting on ethical issues and potential harms, and (6) organizational changes to allow for true communication and coproduction with those with lived experience of SMI. This study approach, combining an international expert meeting with patient and public involvement and engagement throughout the process, consensus methodology, discussion, and publication, is a helpful way to identify directions for future research and clinical implementation in rapidly evolving areas and can be combined with measurements of real-world clinical impact over time. Similar initiatives will be helpful in other areas of digital mental health and similarly fast-evolving fields to focus research and organizational change and effect improved real-world clinical implementation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Mental Health for Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses: An International Consensus on Current Challenges and Potential Solutions

Smith,

Hardy,

Vinnikova

et al. 2024

JMIR Ment Health

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show abstract

“…Commercial companies are likely to have collected a wealth of relevant and informative data on user engagement and app use over several years. However, owing to competing commercial interests and a lack of regulation in the mobile mental health app arena, these data are not publicly available or made openly accessible to researchers [ 80 ]. Nonetheless, an attempt was made to obtain implementation data when it was not included in the articles by contacting the study authors, most of whom responded.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Markers of Successful Implementation of Mental Health Apps for Young People: Systematic Review

Bear¹,

Ayala-Nunes²,

DeJesus³

et al. 2022

J Med Internet Res

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Background Smartphone apps have the potential to address some of the current issues facing service provision for young people’s mental health by improving the scalability of evidence-based mental health interventions. However, very few apps have been successfully implemented, and consensus on implementation measurement is lacking. Objective This review aims to determine the proportion of evidence-based mental health and well-being apps that have been successfully adopted and sustained in real-world settings. A secondary aim is to establish if key implementation determinants such as coproduction, acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and engagement contribute toward successful implementation and longevity. Methods Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, an electronic search of 5 databases in 2021 yielded 18,660 results. After full-text screening, 34 articles met the full eligibility criteria, providing data on 29 smartphone apps studied with individuals aged 15 to 25 years. Results Of 34 studies, only 10 (29%) studies were identified that were evaluating the effectiveness of 8 existing, commercially available mental health apps, and the remaining 24 (71%) studies reported the development and evaluation of 21 newly developed apps, of which 43% (9/21) were available, commercially or otherwise (eg, in mental health services), at the time of enquiry. Most studies addressed some implementation components including adoption, acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and engagement. Factors including high cost, funding constraints, and lengthy research processes impeded implementation. Conclusions Without addressing common implementation drivers, there is considerable redundancy in the translation of mobile mental health research findings into practice. Studies should embed implementation strategies from the outset of the planned research, build collaborations with partners already working in the field (academic and commercial) to capitalize on existing interventions and platforms, and modify and evaluate them for local contexts or target problems and populations. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42021224365; https://tinyurl.com/4umpn85f

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“…Confidentiality, privacy, and data safety are significant areas of concern. [ 4 ] Any person utilizing an AI-based app for their mental health condition and therapy is bound to share important personal details about themselves and family members, making them potentially vulnerable in situations of breach of confidentially and in scenarios of the data breach.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other concerns are the lack of proper standardization and monitoring, the universality of applications, misdiagnosis, wrong diagnosis, inappropriate advice, and the inability to handle crises. [ 4 ] There are also concerns regarding their safety, efficacy, and tolerability.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial intelligence in the era of ChatGPT - Opportunities and challenges in mental health care

Singh¹

2023

Indian Journal of Psychiatry

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Time to Have Effective Regulation of the Mental Health Apps Market: Maximize Gains and Minimize Harms

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Digital Mental Health for Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses: An International Consensus on Current Challenges and Potential Solutions

Digital Mental Health for Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses: An International Consensus on Current Challenges and Potential Solutions

Determination of Markers of Successful Implementation of Mental Health Apps for Young People: Systematic Review

Artificial intelligence in the era of ChatGPT - Opportunities and challenges in mental health care

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