Evaluating the first results of a need-driven digital mental health intervention for depression and anxiety; an exploratory study

Background: Digital mental healthcare interventions (DMHIs) have been repeatedly mentioned as a possible solution for the growing demand for accessible treatment for patients suffering from common mental health problems, i.e. depression and anxiety disorders. However, structural implementation of DMHI is sparse and results on outcome seems inconclusive. To enrich the body of evidence, this paper compares a need-driven digital mental healthcare intervention (DMHI) for patients diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders with traditional face-to-face treatment. The digital treatment is provided using a smartphone app which provides videoconferencing, chat, calendar- and registration functions. Method: In a naturalistic retrospective cohort study patients who received DMHI are compared to patients who received traditional face-to-face treatment. Furthermore three illustrative cases were selected to demonstrate how personalization is expressed in individual treatments. Results: The first results of the DMHI compare favorably with traditional face-to-face treatment, showing comparable satisfaction rates, equal effectiveness, and a significant decrease in treatment duration in weeks. Conclusion: The DMHI has the potential to be as effective, but more efficient than traditional face-to-face treatment. Furthermore the digital treatment opens up options to fine-tune the frequency, duration, and content of care contacts to align with patients' individual situations and personal preferences.