JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Psychological therapy is an effective treatment method for mental illness, yet many people who are suffering do not seek treatment, or dropout of treatment early. Increasing client uptake and engagement in therapy is key to addressing the escalating, global issue of mental illness. Attitudinal barriers, such as a lack of motivation, have shown to be a leading cause of low engagement in therapy. Digital interventions to increase motivation and readiness for change hold promise as accessible, scalable solutions, yet little is known about the range of interventions being used and their feasibility as a means to increase uptake and engagement with therapy.

Objective:

This review aimed to define the emerging field of digital interventions to enhance readiness for psychological therapy and detect gaps in the literature.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, EMBASE, ACM Guide to Computing Literature and IEEE Xplore Digital Library, from January 1, 2006 to November 30, 2021. PRISMA-ScR methodology was applied. Publications were included when they concerned a digitally delivered intervention, a specific target of which was enhancing engagement with further psychological treatment, and when this intervention occurred before the target psychological treatment.

Results:

A total of 45 publications met the inclusion criteria. Conditions covered included depression, unspecified general mental health, comorbid anxiety and depression, smoking, eating disorders, suicide, social anxiety, substance use, gambling and psychosis. Almost half of the interventions were online programs; other formats included screening tools, videos, apps and websites. Most interventions took less than 90 minutes to complete, and were delivered either to people who had not already sought help, via outreach methods such as social media, marketing or email, or to those interested in treatment or actively seeking treatment. The components of the interventions included psychoeducation, symptom assessments and feedback, information on treatment options and referral, client testimonials, expectation management and pro-con lists. Outcomes of controlled studies were mixed and inconclusive due to variations in trial designs, control types and outcome measures.

Conclusions:

The field of digital interventions to enhance readiness for psychological therapy is broad and varied. While these easily accessible, digital approaches show potential as a means of preparing people for therapy, they are not without risks. The complex nature of stigma, motivation, and individual emotional responses towards engaging in treatment for mental health difficulties, suggests that a careful approach is needed when developing and evaluating digital readiness interventions. Further qualitative, naturalistic, and longitudinal research is needed to deepen our knowledge in this area.