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Digital interventions for non-schizophrenic psychoses: a scoping-review
ABSTRACT
Psychotic disorders are severe psychiatric conditions that affect approximately 24 million people worldwide. While research has traditionally focused on schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders are sometimes overshadowed by schizophrenia in the research field. Digital psychiatry offers innovative solutions to improve access to care, reduce stigma, and personalize interventions for patients who face barriers to traditional services. This review of literature examined articles published between the 1st January 2015 and 14th May 2025 on digital interventions targeting non-schizophrenic psychoses, identified through MEDLINE/PubMed. Of 368 initial results, 19 studies met eligibility criteria. Interventions were grouped into four categories: internet-based therapies, smartphone applications, virtual reality (VR)-based treatments, and avatar therapy. The studies identified show that digital interventions for psychotic disorders, although mainly focused on schizophrenia and psychotic onset, also offer good prospects for other psychoses. In terms of acceptability, most studies show a good level of patient satisfaction, especially among young people, thanks to the flexibility and possibility of integrating treatment into daily life. However, significant barriers persist: psychotic symptoms themselves (suspiciousness, social withdrawal), technical difficulties, privacy concerns and poor training of clinicians. Finally, there is considerable methodological heterogeneity and limited representation of non-schizophrenic disorders, leading to difficulties in generalizing the results. Overall, digital technologies represent a promising opportunity to personalize interventions, improve access and support treatment continuity, but larger, more inclusive studies conducted in real-world clinical settings are needed.
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