Apps for mental health

Abstract

Mental health mobile applications (commonly referred to as apps) have become increasingly popular in recent years. Typical features include content, videos, games, alarms, messaging, diaries, and symptom trackers. Unfortunately, many mental health apps come to market before their efficacy has been carefully investigated in clinical trials. Until recently, there were very few rigorous studies on the benefit of mental health apps. This is gradually beginning to change with more and more clinical trials being published every year. The research evidence is mixed, and apps should therefore be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This chapter aims to simplify the process of selecting a mental health app to use with an adolescent through the use of the App Selection Checklist. A case example is also provided to illustrate the potential benefits of using a mental health app in a clinical setting. Caution should be exercised when selecting a mental health app to use with an adolescent.