Clinician's Guide to Evaluating and Developing eHealth Interventions for Mental Health. Issue 1 (9th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ondersma, Steven J.; Walters, Scott T.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice. Volume 2:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2020-09-09
• Subjects: eHealth -- mHealth -- mental health -- therapy -- methods; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.2020.20190036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2575-5609

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: This review aimed to examine key information regarding technology‐delivered interventions for patients with mental health and/or substance use disorders and to provide support for efforts by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in recommending applications or helping to develop new technology‐delivered interventions. Methods: The authors reviewed existing information about the appraisal, development, and evaluation of technology‐delivered interventions (eHealth interventions). Results: High‐level guidance is available for clinicians who want to evaluate eHealth applications for their patients. Clinicians should be familiar with existing models of eHealth intervention development and with traditional as well as unique elements in the evaluation of efficacy for these approaches. However, existing intervention development models have not been empirically validated, and only one includes empirical optimization as an inherent part of its process. Conclusions: Because of the proliferation of eHealth interventions, mental health professionals should bring to this area the same level of content knowledge, understanding of development and evaluation processes, and rigorous skepticism as they do for pharmacotherapy and therapist‐delivered behavioral interventions. HIGHLIGHTS: eHealth interventions are rapidly transforming mental health treatment. Clinicians should apply the same rigor to evaluating eHealth interventions that they apply to pharmacological treatments or other behavioral therapies. High‐level guidance and recommendations regarding ideal eHealth intervention development are available to aid in such evaluation, but empirical evidence in support of these guidelines is lacking.