Category: Technology
Elizabeth Eustis, Ph.D.
Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Boston, Massachusetts
Stephen Schueller, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychological Science
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California
Elizabeth Eustis, Ph.D.
Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Boston, Massachusetts
Eve Rosenfeld, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist (Fellow)
VA Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford
Menlo Park, California
Julia García-Escalera, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
MADRID, Madrid, Spain
Brenna Renn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jacqueline Bullis, Ph.D.
McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders and are associated with a range of negative outcomes both in the U.S. and globally (Global Burden of Diseases, 2022; Kessler et al., 2008; WHO 2008, 2012). In addition, there is a shortage of mental health providers trained in evidence-based treatments, and traditional service delivery models of face-to-face interventions can only reach a small fraction of people in need (e.g., Andrilla et al., 2018; Muñoz, 2010).
In response, there has been rapid growth in digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) that are delivered via internet-based programs, smartphone applications, or other technology. These DMHIs are purported to increase access to care and decrease disparities (Mohr et al., 2017; Ralston et al., 2019). The global Covid-19 pandemic has increased the use of technology in healthcare broadly and interest in DMHIs (Torous et al., 2020). Existing meta-analyses have generally found DMHIs to be effective for anxiety and depression, with interventions that include some type of support generally resulting in better engagement and outcomes (e.g., Andrews et al., 2018; Cuijpers et al., 2019; Firth et al., 2017; Wright et al., 2019). However, research on many commercially available products, and implementation in real world settings, is limited (Larsen et al., 2019; Mohr et al., 2017). For DMHIs to realize their potential we need more research on how to best design, refine, and deliver these interventions in a range of contexts.
In response, this symposium will present research on five different DMHIs with presentations focusing on development and refinement, acceptability, and outcomes at post-treatment and during follow-up periods. The first talk will report on the development and refinement of an internet-based version of the Unified Protocol for adults, and preliminary acceptability and outcome measures from a small pilot trial for anxiety and depressive disorders. The second presentation will share results from a mixed-methods study of an app developed to target depressive rumination, including initial participant feedback and refinements, acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes. The third talk will report results at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up from an open trial examining the efficacy of an internet-based version of the Unified Protocol for adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders referred by school counselors. Next, the fourth talk will report on an RCT examining Sanvello, a commercially available CBT-based app for depression and anxiety, where participants were randomized to receive the app with coach support, without coach support, or to the waitlist control condition. The final presentation will present four-month follow-up data on symptom outcomes from an internet-based CBT program for anxiety and depression in a digital CBT clinic. This submission is consistent with the convention theme of “Emergency & Disaster Preparedness and Response: Using Cognitive and Behavioral Science to Make an Impact”, as the talks all share an emphasis on developing and examining DMHIs that can be widely used and scaled both during periods of disaster or emergency and more broadly.
Presenter: Elizabeth H. Eustis, Ph.D. – Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Co-author: Maya Nauphal, M.A. – Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University
Co-author: Brittany A. Jaso, Ph.D. – Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Co-author: Daniella M. Spencer-Laitt, M.S. – Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Co-author: Lauren S. Woodard, PhD – Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Co-author: Todd J. Farchione, Ph.D. – Boston University
Co-author: David H. Barlow, ABPP, Ph.D. – Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University
Presenter: Eve Rosenfeld, Ph.D. – VA Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford
Presenter: Julia García-Escalera, Ph.D. – Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
Co-author: Victoria Espinosa, M.S. – Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
Co-author: Sandra Arnaez, Ph.D. – National University of Distance Education (UNED)
Co-author: Paloma Chorot, Ph.D. – National University of Distance Education (UNED)
Co-author: Rosa M. Valiente, Ph.D. – National University of Distance Education (UNED)
Co-author: Julia C. Schmitt, M.S. – Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
Co-author: Jill Ehrenreich-May, Ph.D. – University of Miami
Co-author: Bonifacio Sandín, Ph.D. – National University of Distance Education (UNED)
Presenter: Brenna N. Renn, Ph.D. – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Co-author: Teresa Walker, MA – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Co-author: Matthew Schurr, MA – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Co-author: Patrick J. Raue, Ph.D. – University of Washington School of Medicine
Presenter: Jacqueline R. Bullis, Ph.D. – McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Co-author: Harris E. Bajwa, PhD – Massachusetts General Hospital
Co-author: Sara Mei, B.S. – McLean Hospital
Co-author: Scott Rauch, MD – McLean Hospital
Co-author: Courtney Beard, Ph.D. – McLean Hospital