A review of mobile chatbot apps for anxiety and depression and their self-care features
<h3>Background </h3><p dir="ltr">Anxiety and depression rates are at an all-time high. Smartphone-based mental health chatbots can aid psychiatrists replacing some of the costly human based interaction providing a unique opportunity to expand the availability and quality...
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2021
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| Summary: | <h3>Background </h3><p dir="ltr">Anxiety and depression rates are at an all-time high. Smartphone-based mental health chatbots can aid psychiatrists replacing some of the costly human based interaction providing a unique opportunity to expand the availability and quality of mental health intervention whilst providing an alternative approach to fill the much-needed self-care gap. </p><h3>Objective </h3><p dir="ltr">Assess the quality and characteristics of chatbots for anxiety and depression available on Android and iOS systems. </p><h3>Methods </h3><p dir="ltr">A search was performed in the App Store and Google Play Store following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol to identify existing chatbot apps for anxiety and depression. Eligibility was assessed by two individuals based on predefined eligibility criteria. Meta-data of the included chatbots and their characteristics were extracted from their description and post-installation by two reviewers. Information on quality was assessed by following the mHONcode principles. </p><h3>Results </h3><p dir="ltr">Only a handful (n=11) of chatbots were included from an initial search of 1000 that provide a substitute for human-human based interaction and clearly had a therapeutic human substitute goal in mind. The majority of reviewed apps had a high number of downloads indicating their popularity. The apps were also of a general high quality based on our assessment according to the mHONcode principles. </p><h3>Conclusion </h3><p dir="ltr">The general popularity of apps reviewed, and results of our quality assessment indicate chatbots have a promising future within the realm of anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression chatbot apps have the potential to increase the capacity of mental health self-care providing much needed low-cost assistance to professionals.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Update<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpbup.2021.100012" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpbup.2021.100012</a></p> |
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