Sandra Garrido|Chris Millington|Daniel Cheers|Katherine M. Boydell|Emery Schubert|Tanya Meade|Quang Vinh Nguy?n
What Works and What Doesn’t Work? A Systematic Review of Digital Mental Health Interventions for Depression and Anxiety in Young People
Western Sydney University|Translational Research Institute|Western Sydney University|Western Sydney University|New South Wales Department of Health|Black Dog Institute|UNSW Sydney|Western Sydney University|Western Sydney University
background major challenge providing mental health interventions young people making interventions accessible appealing need online appbased forms therapy mental health burgeoning therefore crucial identify features effective engaging young users objectives study reports systematic review metaanalysis digital mental health interventions effectiveness addressing anxiety depression young people determine factors relate outcomes adherence engagement interventions methods mixed methods approach taken including metaanalysis 9 randomized controlled trials compared use digital intervention depression young people nointervention control group 6 comparing intervention active control condition thematic analysis narrative synthesis 41 studies also performed results pooled effect size digital mental health interventions depression comparison nointervention control moderate cohens 033 95 ci 011 055 pooled effect size studies comparing intervention group active control low cohens 014 95 ci 04 031 pooled effect sizes higher supervision involved studies nointervention controls cohens 052 95 ci 023 080 studies active control cohens 049 95 ci 011 101 engagement adherence rates low qualitative analysis revealed users liked interventions gamelike feel relatable interactive content educational materials perceived boring users put nonappealing interfaces technical glitches conclusions digital interventions work better intervention improve depression young people results different studies pooled together however interventions may clinical significance use highly supervised digital interventions work better active alternatives regardless level support future interventions need move beyond use digital educational materials considering ways attract engage young people ensure relevance appeal