Comprehensive synthesis of mHealth interventions in psychiatry: insights from systematic, scoping, narrative reviews and content analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies, including smartphone apps and wearables, have improved health care by providing innovative solutions for monitoring, education and treatment, particularly in mental health.

METHOD

This review synthesises findings from a series of reviews on mHealth interventions in psychiatry. Publications were systematically searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

Out of 2147 records, 111 studies from 2014 to 2024 focusing on anxiety and depression were included. These studies highlight the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in reducing symptoms through cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness and psychoeducation, benefitting adolescents, perinatal women and marginalised groups. Additionally, mHealth shows promise in managing substance use disorders and severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis.

CONCLUSION

Despite positive outcomes, challenges such as data privacy, user engagement and healthcare integration persist. Further robust trials and evidence-based research are needed to validate the efficacy of mHealth technologies.