Adapting and Implementing Apps for Mental Healthcare

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2022 Sep;24(9):407-417. doi: 10.1007/s11920-022-01350-3. Epub 2022 Jul 15.

Abstract

Purpose of review: To describe examples of adapting apps for use in mental healthcare and to formulate recommendations for successful adaptation in mental healthcare settings.

Recent findings: International examples are given to explore implementation procedures to address this multitude of challenges. There are only few published examples of adapting apps for use in mental healthcare. From these examples and from results of studies in implementation science in general clinical settings, it can be concluded that the process of adapting apps for mental healthcare needs to address clinician training and information needs, user needs which include cultural adaptation and go beyond mere translation, and organizational needs for blending app use into everyday clinical mental healthcare workflows.

Keywords: Blended care; Cultural adaptation; Implementation research; Mental disorders.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Humans
  • Mental Health Services*
  • Mobile Applications*