000170218 001__ 170218
000170218 005__ 20260407115449.0
000170218 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2026.03.008
000170218 0248_ $$2sideral$$a148710
000170218 037__ $$aART-2026-148710
000170218 041__ $$aeng
000170218 100__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-3749-3756$$aGonzález-Robles, Alberto$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000170218 245__ $$aMobile app-based psychological interventions for depression and anxiety in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
000170218 260__ $$c2026
000170218 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted
000170218 5203_ $$aObjective:
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mobile app-based psychological interventions in reducing distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and improving quality of life among adults in primary care (PC).
Methods:
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with depression and/or anxiety identified through searches of PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to April 11, 2025. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and relative risks (RRs) were pooled using fixed- and random-effects models. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool.
Results:
Eleven RCTs (N = 2915) met inclusion criteria, contributing 15 comparisons to the meta-analysis (N = 2588; intervention vs. treatment as usual). Pooled analyses showed a significant reduction in overall distress (SMD = −0.44; 95% CI –0.68 to −0.21, p < 0.001) and a moderate decrease in depressive symptoms (SMD = −0.53, 95% CI –0.81 to −0.24, p < 0.001). Limited evidence from four comparisons showed no significant effect on anxiety (SMD = −0.25, 95% CI –0.68 to 0.18, p = 0.26). A small but significant improvement in quality of life was found (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.25, p = 0.001). Participants using apps were more likely to drop out at post-treatment than controls (RR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.79, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Mobile app-based interventions appear to reduce distress and depressive symptoms and modestly improve quality of life in PC, although no significant effects were observed for anxiety. These findings support the potential role of app-based interventions as accessible tools within primary care. However, the limited and heterogeneous reporting of follow-up assessments restricts conclusions about the durability of these effects over time. Higher dropout rates also highlight the need to improve adherence strategies.
000170218 536__ $$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCIU/PID2024-156740OA-I00
000170218 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby$$uhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es
000170218 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
000170218 700__ $$aRomero-Ferreiro, Verónica
000170218 700__ $$aRoca, Pablo
000170218 700__ $$aRodríguez-Jiménez, Tíscar$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000170218 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-4398-4014$$aDíaz-García, Amanda$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000170218 7102_ $$14009$$2680$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Psicología y Sociología$$cÁrea Person.Eval.Trat.Psicoló.
000170218 773__ $$g100 (2026), 62-71$$pGen. hosp. psych.$$tGENERAL HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRY$$x0163-8343
000170218 8564_ $$s2311509$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/170218/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yVersión publicada
000170218 8564_ $$s2376313$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/170218/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yVersión publicada
000170218 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:170218$$particulos$$pdriver
000170218 951__ $$a2026-03-26-14:31:56
000170218 980__ $$aARTICLE