There are many mental health apps on the market today. These apps can help you stay organized, stay in touch with friends, or even remind you of important tasks. However, there are some problems with these apps. Here are three major concerns: User experience, Credibility, and Safety. Read on to find out what to look for in an app.
Issues with mental health apps
Digital health tools are exploding in popularity, including mental health apps. These applications are designed to help patients monitor their symptoms and receive adjunctive treatments. They can track moods, provide therapy-inspired exercises and lessons, and more. There are apps available for nearly every psychiatric disorder and therapeutic modality.
But there are some concerns about these apps. First, most apps are not peer-reviewed or tested by other mental health professionals. They are not subjected to rigorous clinical trials, and their makers are likely to have a financial interest in their success. In addition, most mental health apps are not covered by insurance.
Another concern is privacy. Many mental health apps don't have strong security systems, meaning your medical information or daily routines could be made public. App makers also need to make sure their app protects your information and doesn't share it with anyone else.
Credibility
A recent study assessed the credibility of 72 mental health apps. The apps made a variety of claims about their effectiveness, acceptability, and user experience. Many of the apps used scientific descriptions, technical expertise, or appeals to "the wisdom of the crowd" to support their claims. While some of these claims were supported by academic literature, others were not.
The team used a framework for evaluating the quality of mental health apps, based on the severity of the mental disorder in the focus population, and evidence of clinical effectiveness in the population. The framework also evaluated the app's technology, performance, and scaleability. The authors conclude that a rigorous evaluation of mental health apps is critical for ensuring their safety and efficacy.
User experience
The user experience (UX) of mental health apps should be as easy to use as possible. People with mental illness often struggle with communication. They may feel like their thoughts are irrelevant or unworthy of a listener. They may not want to talk about their situation, or they may simply be too depressed to talk. Chatbots can help people get through difficult times and provide support.
Users want an app that is easy to use and provides clear instructions. It should be informative and provide reminders. It should also provide a sense of trust and security. Users do not want to feel like they're interacting with a shady organization.
Safety
When it comes to mental health apps, privacy and safety are often issues. Privacy issues can arise because of the way mental health apps share information. Some apps share data with researchers or combine data from many users. However, these apps may not disclose their data sharing practices. This article examines some factors that you should consider before using a mental health app.
A review of the top bipolar apps shows mixed results. Only one app had peer-reviewed literature proving its effectiveness, and several included harmful content. In addition, 68% of apps provided a privacy policy. Although these numbers are promising, they do not reflect the uptake of these apps over a longer period of time. Further, the majority of the apps that are downloaded for mental health do not provide adequate information about the privacy policies and other details of their usage.
Psychiatric expertise
The development of mental health apps requires collaboration between mental health professionals and software solution providers. To be effective, a mental health app should identify its area of specialization and provide a service that directly addresses its target audience's needs. Medical practices should decide on their app's focus before it begins development, because the logic of the app will be shaped by its focus. Psychiatric expertise in mental health solutions is important for the successful creation of a mental health app.
While the deregulation of the mental health industry has encouraged innovation, it also leaves the space vulnerable to bad actors and misinformation. For example, Dr. Stephen Schueller, executive director of One Mind PsyberGuide, researchers found that more than 80 percent of the top mental health apps shared user data with third parties, including Google and Facebook. The research also found that most of these apps didn't have clear privacy policies.
