Smartphone Apps for Anxiety, Depression Show High Uptake, Moderate Adherence

Written by Psychiatric News Alert | 11/20/25 10:06 PM

Most patients testing a smartphone app for depression or anxiety engaged with the app at least once, and about six in 10 completed the required work, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis issued yesterday by JAMA Psychiatry.

Why It's Relevant

“Clinicians are increasingly asked to recommend or integrate apps into care, and our results suggest which features may help sustain patient engagement,” the authors wrote. “Moreover, knowledge of typical adherence benchmarks can help clinicians set realistic expectations with patients.”

By the Numbers

Sample: 79 randomized clinical trials testing mental health smartphone apps (39 for depression, 26 for anxiety, and 14 for anxiety/depression).

Uptake: 92% of users activated the app or logged in at least once.

Adherence: 62% completed the minimum amount of time or content required in the trial.

Among 13 trials where every module was required, adherence was 59%.
Rates of adherence were higher among apps that provided clear instructions (67%), offered personalization (69%), and monitored symptoms (67%).
The small number of trials included in these analyses limits the ability to draw firm conclusions about individual features.

Attrition: 19% of participants didn’t complete a post-trial follow-up.

Attrition was significantly lower in trials that offered some level of human contact. “Although these approaches are more resource-intensive, they may foster a sense of accountability and connection that supports continued participation,” the authors wrote.

The Other Side

Only 25% of trials reported adherence, with lower-adherence trials possibly underrepresented. Thus, pooled adherence rate may be overestimated. Clinical trial participants are typically more motived than the general population, which may also inflate findings.

What’s Next

“Future research may benefit from exploring how emerging technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence, can support the development of app features that show early promise for improving engagement,” the authors wrote. “The digital mental health field is uniquely positioned for rapid iteration and innovation, with novel technology-enabled solutions increasingly within reach.”

(Image: Getty Images/iStock/dikushin)

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