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. 2022 Jan 27;10(1):e29621. doi: 10.2196/29621

Table 2.

Summary of findings.

Study Severity of depression and instrument (cut point) Intervention A (n) and intervention B (n) Comparator (n) Length Study design Main results
Arean et al [33]

  • Mild to severe depression without suicidal ideation

  • PHQ-9a (score >5 or score on item 10 ≥2)

  • EVO app (N=221)

  • iPSTb app (N=209)

  • Usual care (N=206)

 4 weeks Effectiveness

  • No significant differences observed between the 2 interventions compared with the control after the intervention and at follow-up.

  • Moderately depressed participants had a greater response to Project: EVO (28/56, 50%) and iPST (39/79, 49%) than the control arm (24/76, 32%; χ2=6.46; P=.04) in remission rates.
Birney et al [34]

  • Mild to moderate depression

  • PHQ-9 (score of 10-19)

  • MoodHacker (N=150)

  • Minimal intervention (N=150)

 6 weeks Efficacy

  • Compared with the control group, the MoodHacker app had significant effects on symptoms of depression in users (P=.01; partial η2=0.021) after the intervention period.
Dahne et al [35]

  • Moderate to severe depression without suicidal ideation

  • PHQ-8c (score >10) and BDI-IId (score >13)

  • Moodivate app (N=24)

  • Moodkit app (N=19)

  • Minimal intervention (N=9)

 8 weeks Efficacy

  • Over time and compared with the control group, participants using either app provided evidence of significant decreases in depressive symptoms that were sustained over the trial period.
Ham et al [36]

  • Moderate to severe depression

  • BDI-II (score >16)

  • HARUToday (N=21)

  • HARUCard (attention control group) (N=21)

  • Waiting list (N=21)

 10 weeks Effectiveness

  • BDI-II scores of the HARUToday group decreased significantly after the intervention compared with the attention control (HARUCard) and waiting-list control groups (P=.01).
Lüdtke et al [37]

  • Subjective need for help with depressive symptoms

  • PHQ-9 (N/Ae)

  • Be Good to Yourself (N=45)

  • Usual care (waiting list) (N=45)

 4 weeks Efficacy

  • Depressive symptoms decreased in both groups after the intervention period, without significant differences among groups (P=.95).
Mantani et al [38]

  • Diagnosed major depression

  • PRIME-MDf and BDI-II (score ≥10)

  • Kokoro-app (N=81)

  • Usual care (N=83)

 9 weeks Effectiveness

  • The intervention group improved significantly compared with the control group (95% CI 1.23-3.72; P<.001; SMDg 0.40). The benefits were maintained during the follow-up period.
Moberg et al [39]

  • Mild to moderate depression

  • PHQ-8 (score between 5 and 14)

  • Pacifica app (N=253)

  • Usual care (waiting list) (N=247)

 4 weeks Effectiveness

  • Participants in the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater decreases in depression. The Group x Time interaction effect size is as follows: Cohen d 0.54; P<.001. Rates of clinical significance change after the intervention: Pacifica, 42% (33/79); waiting list 17% (17/101); P<.001.
Pratap et al [40]

  • Clinically significant depressive symptoms

  • PHQ-9 (score ≥5 or score on item 10 ≥2)

  • EVO (N=83)

  • iPST (N=112)

  • Minimal intervention (daily health tips; N=79)

 4 weeks Efficacy

  • No significant differences were observed in depression outcomes among the 3 groups.
Roepke et al [41]

  • Mild to moderate depression

  • CES-Dh (score ≥16)

  • CBT-PPTi SBj (N=93)

  • General SB (N=97)

  • Usual care (waiting list) (N=93)

 4 weeks Effectiveness

  • After treatment and during follow-up, General SB participants saw greater reductions in depression scores than the control group (P<.001).
Tighe et al [42]

  • Moderate to severe depression

  • PHQ-9 (score >10)

  • Ibobbly (N=31)

  • Usual care (waiting list) (N=30)

 6 weeks Effectiveness

  • The app group showed statistically significant reductions in depression scores compared with the control group (P=.007).
Graham et al [43]

  • Moderate to severe depression

  • PHQ-8 (score >10)

  • IntelliCare platform (N=74)

  • Usual care (waiting list) (N=72)

 8 weeks Effectiveness

  • IntelliCare participants achieved greater reductions in depression and higher odds of recovery compared with the controls (odds ratio 3.25; 95% CI 1.54-6.86).
Guo et al [44]

  • Moderate to severe depression

  • CES-D (score ≥16)

  • Run Love (Wechat platform; N=150)

  • Usual care (waiting list) (N=150)

 12 weeks Effectiveness

  • The intervention group saw significantly reduced depression severity compared with the control group (from 23.9 to 17.7 vs from 24.3 to 23.8; mean difference −5.77, 95% CI −7.82 to −3.71; P<.001).

aPHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

biPST: Problem-solving therapy app.

cPHQ-8: Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

dBDI-II: Beck Depression Inventory.

eN/A: not applicable.

fPRIME-MD: Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders.

gSMD: standardized mean difference.

hCES-D: Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale.

iCBT-PPT: cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychotherapy.

jSB: SuperBetter.