Digital mental health interventions showed benefits, usually with low evidence certainty
A review of pooled randomized trials reported favorable results for specific mental health disorders. Results depended on the comparison, and most evidence had low or very low certainty.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
For people with specific mental health disorders, digital interventions showed favorable results against active interventions for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, major depression, social anxiety and panic disorder. Other favorable findings came from waiting-list comparisons. Most evidence had low or very low certainty, so the reported benefits remain uncertain rather than demonstrating reliable effectiveness across disorders.
The abstract does not specify the outcome measures, effect sizes, intervention formats or treatment durations. Low certainty for most results limits confidence in the reported benefits.
The comparison changes the question
Favorable waiting-list comparisons were reported for specific phobias, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and bulimia nervosa. A comparison with waiting does not answer the same question as a comparison with an active intervention.
Evidence certainty was generally limited
Most findings received low or very low certainty ratings. Generalized anxiety-related outcomes received a moderate rating. These ratings describe confidence in the evidence, rather than how large the benefits were; the abstract gives no numerical treatment effects.
The original publication
Digital health interventions for mental health disorders: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.
Crocamo C, Palpella D, Cavaleri D et al.
Lancet Digit Health · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40610362
- Record checked
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