Psychiatric Apps: Patient Self-Assessment, Communication, and Potential Treatment Interventions

Mobile device applications can complement traditional stages of mental health treatment by providing treatment monitoring, improved adherence to treatment plans, psychoeducation, symptom assessment, and clinical decision support. An increasing number of patients and clinicians have access to smartphones that can run interactive apps (applications). Spurred by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), rising interest and use cases of mobile apps in care underscore the potential of this approach to increase access to and quality of care. However, concomitant risks around privacy, safety, engagement, and clinical integration require the clinician to carefully consider the unique features of each app before integration into care. This chapter will provide an overview of these smartphone mental health apps with a review of their evidence, utility, and risks as well as how new models of care like digital clinics can support their implementation.