Mental health apps may help those waiting for care, study finds

Medical Xpress July 18, 2024
University of Michigan

The recent surge in people seeking mental health care across the country has led to long wait times for first appointments with therapists and psychiatrists.

Now, a study, published in JAMA Network Open, offers hope that while they wait to get care, patients could still get some relief by using evidence-based smartphone apps and wearable devices to track sleep and activity.

The study shows that depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicidality, all decreased measurably when patients were assigned to mobile applications that incorporated mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral therapy skills, or prompts that encouraged mood-enhancing activities.

The study, conducted at Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s academic medical center, involved just over 2,000 patients scheduled to get care in coming weeks from...

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