JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Online assessments of mental health concerns hold great potential for earlier, more cost-effective and more accurate diagnosis of psychiatric conditions compared to traditional interview-based methods.

Objective:

To assess the impact of a comprehensive online mental health assessment on mental health and wellbeing in over 2000 individuals presenting with symptoms of depression.

Methods:

Participants in the Delta Study presenting with depressive symptoms at baseline completed an online assessment which screened for mood and other psychiatric conditions. After completing the assessment, participants received a report containing their assessment results and personalised psychoeducation. After 6 and 12 months, participants were asked to rate the usefulness of the online assessment on different mental health-related outcomes, as well as to self-report on their recent help-seeking behaviour, diagnosis, medication and lifestyle changes. Additionally, general mental wellbeing was assessed at baseline and both follow-ups using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).

Results:

Data from all participants who completed either the 6-months or the 12-months follow-up (N=2064) were analysed. The majority of study participants rated the study as useful for their subjective mental wellbeing. This included talking more openly (68%) and understanding one’s mental health problems better (56%). While most participants (76%) found their assessment results useful, only a small proportion (15%) subsequently discussed them with a mental health professional, leading to only a small number of study participants receiving a new diagnosis (5%). Among those who were reviewed, new mood disorder diagnoses were predicted by the digital algorithm with high sensitivity (above 70%), and nearly half of the newly-diagnosed participants also had a corresponding change in medication. Furthermore, participants’ subjective wellbeing significantly improved over 12 months (baseline WEMWBS score: M=35.24, SD=8.11; 12-months WEMWBS score: M=41.19, SD=10.59). Significant positive predictors of follow-up subjective wellbeing included talking more openly, exercising more and having been reviewed by a psychiatrist.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that completing an online mental health assessment and receiving personalised psychoeducation is associated with subjective mental health improvements, facilitated by increased self-awareness and subsequent utilisation of self-help interventions. Integrating online mental health assessments within primary and/or secondary care services could benefit patients further and expedite earlier diagnosis and effective treatment.