Crocamo, C., et al. (2025).
The Lancet. Digital health, 100878.
Advance online publication.
Summary
Digital health interventions (DHIs) show promise for the treatment of mental health disorders. However, existing meta-analytical research is methodologically heterogeneous, with studies including a mix of clinical, non-clinical, and transdiagnostic populations, hindering a comprehensive understanding of DHI effectiveness. Thus, we conducted an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of DHIs for specific mental health disorders and evaluating the quality of evidence. We searched three public electronic databases from inception to February, 2024 and included 16 studies. DHIs were effective compared with active interventions for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Notable treatment effects compared with a waiting list were also observed for specific phobias, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Certainty of evidence was rated as very low or low in most cases, except for generalised anxiety disorder-related outcomes, which showed a moderate rating. To integrate DHIs into clinical practice, further high-quality studies with clearly defined target populations and robust comparators are needed.
Here are some thoughts:
Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) show promise in treating various mental health disorders like schizophrenia spectrum disorders, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, with notable effects also observed for specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bulimia nervosa when compared to waiting lists. However, this umbrella review of meta-analyses highlights that while effective, the certainty of evidence is often low to very low, primarily due to methodological heterogeneity and weaknesses in existing research. Issues include inconsistent reporting of user engagement indicators and understudied populations, particularly those with serious mental health disorders. This underscores the critical need for higher-quality, standardized studies with clearly defined target populations and robust comparators to facilitate the integration of DHIs into clinical practice.
