Table 2.
Depression education topics included in the apps (N=58).
| Education topics included in the app | Android (n=29), n (%) | iOS (n=29), n (%) | Total (N=58), n (%) | |||||
| General information on depression | ||||||||
|
|
Personal narratives of depression | 6 (21) | 6 (21) | 12 (21) | ||||
|
|
Depression is different from sadness | 20 (69) | 19 (66) | 39 (67) | ||||
|
|
Demographic and epidemiological facts | 15 (52) | 18 (62) | 33 (57) | ||||
|
|
Natural history of the disease | 6 (21) | 12 (41) | 18 (31) | ||||
|
|
Lists symptoms of depression | 26 (90) | 26 (90) | 52 (90) | ||||
|
|
Explains what recurrence and relapse are | 9 (31) | 5 (17) | 14 (24) | ||||
|
|
Addresses stigma linked to depression | 11 (38) | 11 (38) | 22 (38) | ||||
|
|
Mentions suicide risk linked to depression | 23 (79) | 20 (69) | 43 (74) | ||||
| Screening for depression | ||||||||
|
|
Describes diagnostic criteria of depression | 7 (24) | 6 (21) | 13 (22) | ||||
|
|
Provides reference to DSM-5a or ICD-10b | 3 (10) | 3 (10) | 6 (10) | ||||
|
|
Administers a screening questionnaire | 11 (38) | 16 (55) | 27 (47) | ||||
|
|
|
PHQ-9c | 5 (45) | 8 (50) | 13 (48) | |||
|
|
|
PHQ-9 + GAD-7d | 1 (9) | 0 (0) | 1 (4) | |||
|
|
|
PHQ-9 + other validated questionnaires | 1 (9) | 2 (13) | 3 (11) | |||
|
|
|
Other validated questionnaires | 1 (9) | 2 (13) | 3 (11) | |||
|
|
|
Nonvalidated questionnaires | 3 (27) | 4 (25) | 7 (26) | |||
|
|
Explains the need for a confirmatory diagnosis after screening | 7 (24) | 3 (10) | 10 (17) | ||||
| Treatment of depression | ||||||||
|
|
Importance of seeking help | 23 (79) | 21 (72) | 44 (76) | ||||
|
|
Addresses phases and types of treatment (stepped or integrated treatment) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | 2 (3) | ||||
|
|
Advises to seek specialist treatment | 22 (76) | 21 (72) | 43 (74) | ||||
|
|
Importance of involving support network | 16 (55) | 13(45) | 29 (50) | ||||
|
|
Importance of complying with treatment | 8 (28) | 8 (28) | 16 (28) | ||||
|
|
Lists available treatments | 27 (93) | 26 (90) | 53 (91) | ||||
|
|
Treatments mentioned by the app | |||||||
|
|
|
Psychotherapy | 3 (10) | 4 (14) | 7 (12) | |||
|
|
|
Psychotherapy + pharmacotherapy | 13 (45) | 10 (34) | 23 (40) | |||
|
|
|
Psychotherapy + pharmacotherapy + others | 7 (24) | 7 (24) | 14 (24) | |||
|
|
|
Psychotherapy + others | 0 (0) | 2 (7) | 2 (3) | |||
|
|
|
Complementary medicine | 3 (10) | 1 (3) | 4 (7) | |||
|
|
|
Others | 1 (3) | 2 (7) | 3 (5) | |||
|
|
Importance of lifestyle changes | 18 (62) | 21 (72) | 39 (67) | ||||
|
|
Effects of physical exercise | 19 (66) | 20 (69) | 39 (67) | ||||
|
|
Offers emergency helpline phone numbers | 16 (55) | 19 (66) | 35 (60) | ||||
|
|
Prognosis in patients receiving treatment | 7 (24) | 13 (45) | 20 (34) | ||||
|
|
Addresses recovery and provides a hopeful outlook | 3 (10) | 3 (10) | 6 (10) | ||||
aDSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
bICD-10: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.
cPHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item version.
dGAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 7-item scale.