Goldberg SB, Lam SU, Simonsson O, Torous J, Sun S (2022) Mobile phone-based interventions for mental health: A systematic meta-review of 14 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. PLOS Digit Health 1(1): e0000002. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000002
Researchers conducted a systematic review of meta-analyses to synthesize evidence for effectiveness of mobile phone-based mental health interventions evaluated in randomized controlled trials. The study aimed to clarify the strength of evidence across different participants, interventions, comparisons, and outcomes. Studies that report an effect size from a meta-analysis related to mobile phone-based interventions, on any mental health outcome, and based on at least four randomized controlled trials were included. The review summarized the results from 14 meta-analyses with a total of 145 randomized controlled trials representing 47,940 participants. Thirty-four effect sizes were identified and evaluated on criteria related to strength of evidence. Eight effect sizes showed promising evidence (n>1000, p<10-6) for mobile apps to improve psychological symptoms and quality of life and text message-based interventions for smoking cessation. Four effect sizes provided suggestive evidence (n>1000, p<10-3), 14 provided weak evidence (n>1000, p<0.05), and eight were non-significant. The magnitude of effects decreased as comparison conditions were more active. Only one study tested moderators as predictors, including study design and aspects of the intervention; however, none significantly impacted treatment effects. Overall, the results indicate that mobile phone-based interventions have potential to promote mental health.