JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Feeling Good App is currently undergoing Beta testing with the goal of providing evidence informed self-help lessons and exercises to help individuals reduce depressive symptoms. Users work through Intensive Basic Training (IBT) and Ongoing Training Models (OTM) that provide education regarding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles from the convenience of a smartphone.

Objective:

Our key objectives were to use retrospective dataset from a randomized waitlist cohort to assess the safety, feasibility, acceptability, and evidence of efficacy for a novel digital mobile mental health intervention in reducing feelings associated with depression.

Methods:

The development team of the Feeling Good App created a waitlist cohort crossover design and measured symptoms of depression and anxiety as measured by the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and an app specific measure of negative feelings. Data collected by the Feeling Good App development team was identified and provided to the authors of this paper for analysis and interpretation.

Results:

Qualitative and quantitative data suggests that the app is safe to use, as there was no statistically significant change in suicidality from preintervention to postintervention (t=0.0, p=1.0) and there was a statistically significant decrease in hopelessness from preintervention to postintervention (F=30.16, p<0.01). 72.17% of users who started the initial two-day IBT went on to complete it, while 34.78% users who started IBT completed the entirety of the apps’ 4-week protocol (65.22% dropout rate over 4 weeks). Users showed a statistically significant decrease in PHQ-9 scores from preintervention to postintervention (F=43.680, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

The Feeling Good App in its current form is acceptable and feasible for the general population. Results from this study indicate that those who stay engaged with the app show significant reductions in symptom severity of depression and warrant further investigation.