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. 2023 Jul-Sep;27(3):966-983.
doi: 10.1080/13811118.2022.2096520. Epub 2022 Jul 12.

Exploring the Safety of a General Digital Mental Health Intervention to Effect Symptom Reduction among Individuals with and without Suicidal Ideation: A Secondary Analysis

Jonah Meyerhoff, Kaylee P Kruzan, Kwang-Youn A Kim, Kimberly Van Orden, David C Mohr

Exploring the Safety of a General Digital Mental Health Intervention to Effect Symptom Reduction among Individuals with and without Suicidal Ideation: A Secondary Analysis

Jonah Meyerhoff et al. Arch Suicide Res. 2023 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Trials of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) often exclude individuals with suicide-related thoughts and behaviors precluding an understanding of whether DMHIs for affective disorders are safe for, and perform similarly within, this high-risk group. We explore the safety and performance of a DMHI for depression in participants with and without suicidal ideation (SI) at baseline. Three hundred and one participants were included in this secondary data analysis from a trial of an 8-week DMHI comprising 14 smartphone apps. We found that SI decreased across the study among participants with baseline SI and that baseline SI status did not attenuate depression treatment effects. Through a case study of the IntelliCare platform, we find that DMHIs for general affective disorders can be safe.

Keywords: Depression; mHealth; prevention; smartphone; suicide; technology.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

David C. Mohr, PhD has accepted honoraria and consulting fees from Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Optum Behavioral Health, and the One Mind Foundation, royalties from Oxford Press, and has an ownership interest in Adaptive Health, Inc. None of the other authors have competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Figure 1. Distribution of change in PHQ-9 item 9 among those with baseline suicidal ideation. Red dotted line represents mean change of −0.85.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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