Dara H. Sorkin|Emily A. Janio|Elizabeth V. Eikey|Margaret Schneider|Katelyn Davis|Stephen M. Schueller|Nicole A. Stadnick|Kai Zheng|Martha Neary|David Safani|Dana B. Mukamel
Rise in Use of Digital Mental Health Tools and Technologies in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey Study
University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine|Human Longevity (United States)|University of California, San Diego|University of California, Irvine|University of California, San Francisco|University of California, Irvine|University of California, San Diego|Fleet Science Center|Health Services Research & Development|University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine
accompanying rising rates reported mental distress covid19 pandemic reported increase use digital technologies manage health generally mental health specificallythe objective study systematically examine whether covid19 pandemicrelated increase selfreported use digital mental health tools technologies manage mental healthwe analyzed results survey 5907 individuals united states using amazon mechanical turk mturk survey administered 4 weeklong periods 2020 survey respondents 50 states washington dc first set analyses employed two different logistic regression models estimate likelihood symptoms indicative clinical depression anxiety respectively function rate covid19 cases per 10 people survey time point second set employed seven different logistic regression models estimate likelihood using seven different types digital mental health tools technologies manage ones mental health function symptoms indicative clinical depression anxiety rate covid19 cases per 10 people survey time point models also examined potential interactions symptoms clinical depression anxiety respectively rate covid19 cases models controlled respondent sociodemographic characteristics state fixed effectshigher covid19 case rates associated significantly greater likelihood reporting symptoms depression odds ratio 206 95 ci 127335 anxiety 121 95 ci 077188 survey time point proxy time associated greater likelihood reporting clinically meaningful symptoms depression anxiety 119 95 ci 112127 112 95 ci 105119 respectively reported symptoms depression anxiety associated greater likelihood using type technology higher covid19 case rates associated significantly greater likelihood using mental health forums websites apps 270 95 ci 149488 health forums websites apps 260 95 ci 155434 time associated increased odds reported use mental health forums websites apps 120 95 ci 111130 phonebased textbased crisis lines 120 95 ci 110131 online computer console gamingvideo gaming 112 95 ci 105119 interactions covid19 case rate mental health symptoms significantly associated technology typesfindings suggested increased use digital mental health tools technologies time early stages covid19 pandemic additional effort urgently needed consider quality products either ensuring users access evidencebased evidenceinformed technologies andor providing skills make informed decisions around potential efficacy