Louise Farrer|Amelia Gulliver|Jade K. Y. Chan|Philip J. Batterham|Julia Reynolds|Alison L. Calear|Robert J. Tait|Kylie Bennett|Kathleen M Griffiths
Technology-Based Interventions for Mental Health in Tertiary Students: Systematic Review
Australian National University|Australian National University|Australian National University|Australian National University|Australian National University|Australian National University|Australian National University|Curtin University|Australian National University|Australian National University
mental disorders responsible high level disability burden students attending university however many universities limited resources available support student mental health technologybased interventions may highly relevant university populations previous reviews targeted substance use eating disorders tertiary students however effectiveness technologybased interventions mental disorders related issues reviewedto systematically review published randomized trials technologybased interventions evaluated university setting disorders substance use eating disordersthe pubmed psycinfo cochrane central register controlled trials databases searched using keywords phrases mesh terms retrieved abstracts n1618 double screened coded included studies met following criteria 1 study randomized trial randomized controlled trial 2 sample composed students attending tertiary institution 3 intervention delivered accessed using technological device process 4 age range sample 18 25 years 5 intervention designed improve reduce change symptoms relating mental disordera total 27 studies met inclusion criteria present review studies 2427 89 employed interventions targeting anxiety symptoms disorders stress although almost onethird 724 29 targeted depression anxiety total 51 technologybased interventions employed across 27 studies overall approximately half 2451 47 associated least 1 significant positive outcome compared control postintervention however 29 1551 failed find significant effect effect sizes calculated 18 51 interventions provided sufficient data median effect size 054 range 007 304 8 interventions targeting depression anxiety symptoms 084 range 007 266 10 interventions targeting anxiety symptoms disorders internetbased technology typically involving cognitive behavioral therapy commonly employed medium employed 16 27 studies approximately half 51 technologybased interventions 2551 49 distal universal preventive interventions common type intervention methodological problems evident studies randomization methods either inadequate inadequately described studies specifying primary outcome studies failing undertake report appropriate intenttotreat analysesthe findings review indicate although technological interventions targeting certain mental health related problems offer promise students university settings high quality trials fully report randomization methods outcome data data analysis methods needed