Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps
Abstract Mental health apps are efficacious, yet they may pose risks in some. This review (CRD42024506486) examined adverse events (AEs) from mental health apps. We searched (May 2024) the Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases to identify clinical trials of mental health apps. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | npj Digital Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01388-y |
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| author | Jake Linardon Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Joseph Firth Simon B. Goldberg Cleo Anderson Zoe McClure John Torous |
| author_facet | Jake Linardon Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Joseph Firth Simon B. Goldberg Cleo Anderson Zoe McClure John Torous |
| author_sort | Jake Linardon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mental health apps are efficacious, yet they may pose risks in some. This review (CRD42024506486) examined adverse events (AEs) from mental health apps. We searched (May 2024) the Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases to identify clinical trials of mental health apps. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Only 55 of 171 identified clinical trials reported AEs. AEs were more likely to be reported in trials sampling schizophrenia and delivering apps with symptom monitoring technology. The meta-analytic deterioration rate from 13 app conditions was 6.7% (95% CI = 4.3, 10.1, I 2 = 75%). Deterioration rates did not differ between app and control groups (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.62–1.01, I 2 = 0%). Reporting of AEs was heterogeneous, in terms of assessments used, events recorded, and detail provided. Overall, few clinical trials of mental health apps report AEs. Those that do often provide insufficient information to properly judge risks related to app use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-56646abb0df94bc2b0fd9c7cc6828cc5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2398-6352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Digital Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-56646abb0df94bc2b0fd9c7cc6828cc52024-12-22T12:49:40ZengNature Portfolionpj Digital Medicine2398-63522024-12-017112210.1038/s41746-024-01388-ySystematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health appsJake Linardon0Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz1Joseph Firth2Simon B. Goldberg3Cleo Anderson4Zoe McClure5John Torous6School of Psychology, Deakin UniversitySchool of Psychology, Deakin UniversityDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreDepartment of Counselling Psychology, University of Wisconsin – MadisonSchool of Psychology, Deakin UniversitySchool of Psychology, Deakin UniversityDivision of Digital Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Mental health apps are efficacious, yet they may pose risks in some. This review (CRD42024506486) examined adverse events (AEs) from mental health apps. We searched (May 2024) the Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases to identify clinical trials of mental health apps. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Only 55 of 171 identified clinical trials reported AEs. AEs were more likely to be reported in trials sampling schizophrenia and delivering apps with symptom monitoring technology. The meta-analytic deterioration rate from 13 app conditions was 6.7% (95% CI = 4.3, 10.1, I 2 = 75%). Deterioration rates did not differ between app and control groups (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.62–1.01, I 2 = 0%). Reporting of AEs was heterogeneous, in terms of assessments used, events recorded, and detail provided. Overall, few clinical trials of mental health apps report AEs. Those that do often provide insufficient information to properly judge risks related to app use.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01388-y |
| spellingShingle | Jake Linardon Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Joseph Firth Simon B. Goldberg Cleo Anderson Zoe McClure John Torous Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps npj Digital Medicine |
| title | Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps |
| title_full | Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps |
| title_fullStr | Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps |
| title_short | Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps |
| title_sort | systematic review and meta analysis of adverse events in clinical trials of mental health apps |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01388-y |
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