Mobile Applications in Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Efficacy

Abstract

In recent years, the number of smart phone applications developed for physical and mental health has been rapidly increasing. The rapid growth in the use of smart phone applications provides an alternative and supportive option for the treatment of mental illnesses. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the effectiveness of mobile applications related to mental health by using randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Within the scope of the study, English articles published in several databases were searched using specific terms. Twelve eligible studies fulfilling the research criteria were evaluated in terms of contents, sampling, study method and findings of the applications. The findings of the current studies revealed that mobile applications are generally effective in reducing the symptoms of the mental illness and feasibility and usability of smart phone applications were reported by participants. 

Keywords

• Smart phone,Mobile applications,App

Ruh Sağlığında Mobil Uygulamalar: Etkinliğe Yönelik Sistematik Bir Gözden Geçirme

Öz

Son yıllarda fiziksel ve ruhsal sağlığa yönelik geliştirilen akıllı telefon uygulamalarının sayısı hızla artmaktadır. Kullanımı hızla yaygınlaşan uygulamalar ruhsal rahatsızlıkların tedavisine alternatif ve destekleyici bir seçenek sunmaktadır.  Bu derlemenin amacı, ruh sağlığı ile ilgili mobil uygulamaların etkinliğini randomize kontrollü çalışmalar (RKÇ) ile değerlendiren alanyazındaki çalışmaları sistematik olarak gözden geçirerek incelemektir. Çalışma kapsamında çeşitli veritabanlarında yayınlanan İngilizce makaleler belirlenen anahtar kelimeler kullanılarak taranmıştır. Yapılan tarama sonucunda dahil etme kriterlerine uygun 12 araştırma bu çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir; bu çalışmalar ise uygulamaların içeriği, örneklem, çalışma yöntemi ve bulgular açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmalardan elde edilen bulgular ışığında mobil uygulamaların genel olarak hedeflenen ruhsal bozukluk belirtilerini azaltmada etkili olduğu ve katılımcılar tarafından uygulamaların benimsendiği ve kullanımının kolay olduğunu rapor ettikleri görülmüştür. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Akıllı Telefon,Mobil Uygulamalar,App,Ruh Sağlığı

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