Smartphone apps may be an effective treatment option for depression, claims a study which could pave the way for safe and accessible interventions for millions of people with the condition.
Depression is the most prevalent mental disorder and a leading cause of global disability, with mental health services worldwide struggling to meet the demand for treatment.
“Using apps as part of an integrative medicine approach for depression has been demonstrated to be particularly useful for improving mood and tackling symptoms in these patients,” Sarris added.
Researchers analysed more than 3,400 male and female participants between the ages of 18-59 years with a range of mental health symptoms and conditions including major depression, mild to moderate depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and insomnia.
“Combined with the rapid technological advances in this area, these devices may ultimately be capable of providing instantly accessible and highly effective treatments for depression, reducing the societal and economic burden of this condition worldwide,” Firth added
