Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Nov 17, 2020
Date Accepted: May 31, 2021
Effects of Mobile App-Based Intervention for Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digital mental health interventions may help depressed middle-age and older adults overcome barriers to accessing traditional care, but few studies have investigated their use in this population.
Objective:
This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the Meru Health Program, an eight-week mobile app-delivered intervention.
Methods:
This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the Meru Health Program, an eight-week mobile app-delivered intervention.
Results:
Ninety percent of participants completed the program, with 75% completing at least 7 of the 8 introductory weekly lessons. On average, participants completed 60 minutes of practices and exchanged 5 messages with their therapist every week. The app was rated as helpful by 89% of completers. Significant decreases in depressive and anxiety symptom measures (ps < .05) were found; 45% showed clinically significant improvement in either depressive or anxiety symptoms.
Conclusions:
Findings suggest that the commercially available Meru Health Program is feasible, acceptable, and has potential benefits to reducing psychiatric symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. While larger, controlled trials are needed to demonstrate efficacy, these findings suggest that digital health interventions may benefit adults of all ages. Clinical Trial: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03652948
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