TY - JOUR
AU - A. González-Robles
AU - V. Romero-Ferreiro
AU - P. Roca
AU - T. Rodríguez-Jiménez
AU - A. Díaz-García
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mobile app-based psychological interventions in reducing distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and improving quality of life among adults in primary care (PC). METHODS: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with depression and/or anxiety identified through searches of PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to April 11, 2025. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and relative risks (RRs) were pooled using fixed- and random-effects models. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs (N = 2915) met inclusion criteria, contributing 15 comparisons to the meta-analysis (N = 2588; intervention vs. treatment as usual). Pooled analyses showed a significant reduction in overall distress (SMD = -0.44; 95% CI -0.68 to -0.21, p < 0.001) and a moderate decrease in depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI -0.81 to -0.24, p < 0.001). Limited evidence from four comparisons showed no significant effect on anxiety (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI -0.68 to 0.18, p = 0.26). A small but significant improvement in quality of life was found (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.25, p = 0.001). Participants using apps were more likely to drop out at post-treatment than controls (RR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.79, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mobile app-based interventions appear to reduce distress and depressive symptoms and modestly improve quality of life in PC, although no significant effects were observed for anxiety. These findings support the potential role of app-based interventions as accessible tools within primary care. However, the limited and heterogeneous reporting of follow-up assessments restricts conclusions about the durability of these effects over time. Higher dropout rates also highlight the need to improve adherence strategies.
AD - Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain. Electronic address: gonzaleza@unizar.es.; Departament of Psychology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain; CIBERSAM-ISCIII (Biomedical Research Networking Centre for Mental Health), Spain.; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Villanueva, Madrid, Spain.; Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain.
AN - 41830754
BT - Gen Hosp Psychiatry
C5 - HIT & Telehealth
DA - 12/1969
DO - 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2026.03.008
DP - NLM
ET - 20260310
JF - Gen Hosp Psychiatry
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mobile app-based psychological interventions in reducing distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and improving quality of life among adults in primary care (PC). METHODS: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with depression and/or anxiety identified through searches of PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to April 11, 2025. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and relative risks (RRs) were pooled using fixed- and random-effects models. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs (N = 2915) met inclusion criteria, contributing 15 comparisons to the meta-analysis (N = 2588; intervention vs. treatment as usual). Pooled analyses showed a significant reduction in overall distress (SMD = -0.44; 95% CI -0.68 to -0.21, p < 0.001) and a moderate decrease in depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI -0.81 to -0.24, p < 0.001). Limited evidence from four comparisons showed no significant effect on anxiety (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI -0.68 to 0.18, p = 0.26). A small but significant improvement in quality of life was found (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.25, p = 0.001). Participants using apps were more likely to drop out at post-treatment than controls (RR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.79, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mobile app-based interventions appear to reduce distress and depressive symptoms and modestly improve quality of life in PC, although no significant effects were observed for anxiety. These findings support the potential role of app-based interventions as accessible tools within primary care. However, the limited and heterogeneous reporting of follow-up assessments restricts conclusions about the durability of these effects over time. Higher dropout rates also highlight the need to improve adherence strategies.
PY - 2026
SN - 0163-8343
SP - 62
EP - 71+
ST - Mobile app-based psychological interventions for depression and anxiety in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
T1 - Mobile app-based psychological interventions for depression and anxiety in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
T2 - Gen Hosp Psychiatry
TI - Mobile app-based psychological interventions for depression and anxiety in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
U1 - HIT & Telehealth
U3 - 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2026.03.008
VL - 100
VO - 0163-8343
Y1 - 2026
ER -