Mental health apps offer basic features, privacy challenges common

Medical Xpress December 29, 2022
Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Mental health apps offer basic features and privacy challenges are common, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Network Open.

Erica Camacho, from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues examined the current state of mental health apps and the opportunities and challenges facing the commercial app landscape in a cross-sectional study. A total of 578 mental health apps were assessed and rated across 105 dimensions. Each app was rated across six categories: app origin and accessibility; privacy and security; clinical foundation; features and engagement; inputs and outputs; and interoperability. Privacy scores were determined based on five M-Health Index and Navigation Database criteria.

The researchers found that the top app features included psychoeducation, goal...