scholarly journals Assessing the Efficacy of Mobile Health Apps Using the Basic Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Leigh Rathbone ◽  
Laura Clarry ◽  
Julie Prescott

BACKGROUND Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in its basic principle has developed itself as a stand-alone, substantial method of therapy. With effective application in therapy for a range of mental health issues, the spread of CBT methods to Web-based therapy sources is evident. The development of mobile phone apps using CBT principles is increasing within the research area. Despite the move to Web-based methods of therapy, it is argued that these methods lack the same efficacy of face-to-face therapy sessions. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to assess extent research findings with regard to the effectiveness of CBT-related mobile health (mHealth) apps. By assessing only studies employing a randomized controlled trial design, the review aimed to determine app efficacy within the highly regarded method of investigation. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted across several databases. Search results were filtered, and results were subject to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria because of the nature of the review. Where possible, analysis of effect size was calculated and results reported. RESULTS A total of 8 studies investigating the effectiveness of mHealth CBT-related apps across a range of mental health issues were reviewed. Three studies used the app against a control group, and 5 studies used the app intervention against another form of treatment or intervention. A range of effect sizes were seen across all included studies (d=−0.13 to 1.83; 0.03-1.44), with the largest effects often being seen when comparing the data from pre- to posttest for the app engaged group. CONCLUSIONS The studies reviewed support the use of mHealth apps containing CBT principles for a range of mental health issues. However, the effectiveness over longer time periods should be assessed. Researchers and professionals should seek to collaborate effectively when creating new apps to enhance their effectiveness as a treatment for the general public.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 451-458
Author(s):  
Amy Petrinec ◽  
Cindy Wilk ◽  
Joel W. Hughes ◽  
Melissa D. Zullo ◽  
Yea-Jyh Chen ◽  
...  

Background Family members of intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at risk for post–intensive care syndrome– family (PICS-F), including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the first-line nonpharmacologic treatment for many psychological symptoms and has been successfully delivered by use of mobile technology for symptom self-management. Objectives To determine the feasibility of delivering cognitive behavioral therapy through a smartphone app to family members of critically ill patients. Methods This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study with a consecutive sample of patients admitted to 2 adult ICUs and their family members. The control group period was followed by the intervention group period. The intervention consisted of a mobile health app preloaded on a smartphone provided to family members. The study time points were enrollment (within 5 days of ICU admission), 30 days after admission, and 60 days after admission. Study measures included demographic data, app use, satisfaction with the app, mental health self-efficacy, and measures of PICS-F symptoms. Results The study sample consisted of 49 predominantly White (92%) and female (82%) family members (24 intervention, 25 control). Smartphone ownership was 88%. Completion rates for study measures were 92% in the control group and 79% in the intervention group. Family members logged in to the app a mean of 18.58 times (range 2-89) and spent a mean of 81.29 minutes (range 4.93-426.63 minutes) using the app. Conclusions The study results confirm the feasibility of implementing app-based delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy to family members of ICU patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia García-Pazo ◽  
Joana Fornés-Vives ◽  
Albert Sesé Abad

BACKGROUND Despite the rapid growth of mobile health (mHealth) apps for smoking cessation, it is difficult to find any that integrate effective treatments such as those recommended in clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). OBJECTIVE This paper aims to describe the development of an mHealth app to quit smoking that implements CBT, drawing on the potential of smartphones and complying with the demands of the scientific community and the CPG recommendations. METHODS Creation of a mobile application to quit smoking based on the standards for the development of mHealth apps recommended by the Andalusian Healthcare Quality Agency and the Catalonian ICT Foundation for Social Health. To design the app, a multidisciplinary team was formed (healthcare, research, and IT) that made decisions about the scientific base to be incorporated in developing the techniques and the pilot program with two groups (experts and experimental) to test the app’s usability. RESULTS Pilot study of the app with a group of experts and a clinical group is described. The first group positively evaluates the application and identifies it as easy and intuitive to use. They suggest some changes to improve it, such as incorporating tutorial videos into the texts about the using the app and adding more gamification elements. The experimental group rates the app as easy to understand (100%) and finds it quite useful to have the information available at all times. The mobile health app, called NoFumo+, is available for both operating systems (Android and Apple). Its design includes icons with universal codes, it follows the CPG 5A recommendations, and it incorporates a multi-component CBT program to maintain abstinence from smoking. All of this is accompanied by complementary information, monitoring of the smoking behavior, social support for users, proposals for alternative activities to smoking, and gamification to encourage and reward adherence to the program. CONCLUSIONS No Fumo+ is easily an accessible and useful mHealth, meets the requirements of the scientific community, and implements a multi-component CBT program.


2011 ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Nhu Minh Hang Tran ◽  
Huu Cat Nguyen ◽  
Dang Doanh Nguyen ◽  
Van Luong Ngo ◽  
Vu Hoang Nguyen ◽  
...  

Objectives: To determine factors impact on the relapse in depressed patients treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) during one year follow-up. Materials and Methods: 80 depressed patients divided into two groups, group 1: included 40 patients treated with CBT; group 2: 40 patients on amitriptyline. Non-randomized controlled clinical trial, opened, longiditual and prospective research. Results and Conclusions: relapse rate after CBT during 1 year follow-up is 10% (compared to 25% in control group), related factors to relapse rate in depression after CBT are age and education. Shared predictors between 2 groups are severity and recurrence of depression. Key words: Depression, relapse, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)


Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Waldron ◽  
Inger Burnett-Zeigler ◽  
Victoria Wee ◽  
Yiukee Warren Ng ◽  
Linda J. Koenig ◽  
...  

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms at higher rates than their male counterparts and more often than HIV-unaffected women. These mental health issues affect not only the well-being and quality of life of WLWH, but have implications for HIV management and transmission prevention. Despite these ramifications, WLWH are under-treated for mental health concerns and they are underrepresented in the mental health treatment literature. In this review, we illustrate the unique mental health issues faced by WLWH such as a high prevalence of physical and sexual abuse histories, caregiving stress, and elevated internalized stigma as well as myriad barriers to care. We examine the feasibility and outcomes of mental health interventions that have been tested in WLWH including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and supportive counseling. Future research is required to address individual and systemic barriers to mental health care for WLWH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (S2) ◽  
pp. 40-41
Author(s):  
Alethea Desrosiers ◽  
Carolyn Schafer ◽  
Jordan Freeman ◽  
Alpha Vandi ◽  
Miriam Hinton ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Kosar Bardideh ◽  
Fatemeh Bardideh ◽  
Keivan Kakabaraee

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of the cognitive behavioral therapy on pain reduction and the elevation of self efficacy among children who suffer from cancer.</p><p><strong>METHOD:</strong> The present study adopts a quasi experimental pretest-posttest two group design .The research population consists of all 9-11 year old children with cancer who admitted to Tehran specialized cancer treatment centers in 2015. From those eligible in this study 40 were selected at hand and were randomly divided to two experimental and control groups (20 for experimental group and 20 for control group). Kuris self-efficacy questionnaire and Oucher pain scale were employed for data collection and multivariate and single-variant analyses of covariance have been used for data analysis.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The results showed that the cognitive behavioral therapy has resulted in ease of pain and rise of efficacy among the experimental group (P˂ 0.01).</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Based on findings it can be deduced that cognitive behavioral therapy has a significant impact on this group of patients and this treatment can be employed as an appropriate solution in order to reduce the symptoms of children with cancer and ultimately to treat cancer.</p>


2020 ◽  
pp. 231-235

Introduction and Objectives: Major Thalassemia can be considered one of the biggest chronic physical disorders, which causes some psychological and social problems to patients and their families. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on the distress tolerance and level of coping with a child’s illness among the parents of children with major thalassemia. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on a semi-experimental design with pretest and posttest. The statistical population consisted of all parents of Children with major thalassemia in Zahedan, Iran, during 2016. A total of 40 parents were selected based on convenience sampling and randomly divided into two experimental (n=20) and control groups (n=20). They were then requested to complete the distress and resistance questionnaires, and they participated weekly in eight 90-min intervention sessions based on cognitive behavioral therapy Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) through multivariate covariance analysis. Results: The results show that cognitive-behavioral therapy improves distress (F=9.82, P<0.004), tolerance (F=5.12, P<0.030), absorbed (F=7.43, P<0.010), assessment (F=4.73, P<0.037), and adjustment (F=6.70, P<0.014) dimension scores, and has an effect on group membership. Moreover, cognitive-behavioral therapy improved the level of coping with the disease dimension (F=32.61, P<0.0001) and the first factor (F=5.53, P<0.025). Additionally, this technique had a significant effect on posttest scores and group membership. Conclusion: The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy increased the level of distress tolerance and improved the level of coping with the childchr('39')s disease, compared to the control group. Evidence suggests that the parents of children with major thalassemia patients face many problems that can lead to high levels of anxiety and depression, tolerance of distress at a low level, despair and disappointment, as well as guilty feeling


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