Introduction
The rapid development of technology has brought many positives to everyday life, including mobile apps for smartphones. In the field of health, some apps track biochemical indicators, dates of medications and doctor visits, and disease dynamics. For people with mental illnesses, mobile apps can be one of the most relevant and convenient solutions for preventing complications, relapses, and worsening of the disease (Marshall et al., 2020).
Apps affect the level of anxiety and depression, thus replacing a portion of the work of a psychologist. They are an affordable and acceptable tool in psychological services because technological advances have made them convenient for almost any user. Applications designed for mental health improvement have multiple benefits in helping individuals struggling with mental health issues by providing them with a framework for monitoring, maintaining therapy progress, and designing appropriate patient treatments.
Discussion
Mobile apps for tracking health, especially mental health, are numerous because technological advances have launched processes to improve personalized content and interface. Health apps simplify the daily need to monitor and track metrics that must be kept in mind or written down. Technological advances in software have changed the notion that a mobile app is inconvenient or unreliable because they have introduced tools to protect information and automate its storage and processing (Marshall et al., 2020). They have become available for any smartphone, regardless of firmware (Apple, Android, Samsung, and others), so all users can choose for themselves an individual option. User experience and its optimization are the main goals of IT specialists and developers, so doctors must cooperate with them to better adapt psychological techniques in the online mode.
Based on the above information, technological progress continues to move forward so one can expect continuous improvement and development of mobile applications. In treating and preventing psychological illnesses, it is critical to have constant access to techniques that manage anxiety (Huckvale et al., 2020). Medical professionals and the IT sector work together to integrate reasonable and evidence-based psychological practices into apps. Technology is accessible; artificial intelligence learns and tailors the solution for each person, making it easier for them to use the app. With the constant improvement of technology, software, and medicine in general, apps will be able to reach and support a tangibly large number of populations with psychological discomfort (Marshall et al., 2021). In addition, progress will constantly accompany the apps, and users will be able to participate in optimization processes by providing feedback and their impressions and results from using the apps. Healthcare can expect that mental health tracking and improvement apps will be able to provide expert help in a convenient format.
The apparent proof of the convenience and benefits of mobile apps is the ability to make individualized care plans online. Visiting a therapist daily is impossible due to the already heavy healthcare workload and various time and financial constraints (Jaworski et al., 2021). However, consulting with a therapist online and keeping track of app changes can solve this problem. Patients can access their treatment plan and evaluate and analyze it for themselves. They improve their well-being because they always know that their health goals can be changed and the plan adjusted (Marshall et al., 2020). Mental well-being will improve as patients develop self-control and self-management, who already know the value of structuring their treatment processes in the early stages. The ability to remotely meditate and sort out self-feelings, emotions, and states will allow patients to feel comfortable with therapy and go toward treatment (Lecomte et al., 2020). Consequently, mobile apps will ensure that the progress of therapy and the development of individual mental planning is maintained.
Receiving therapy offline requires costs and overcoming limitations; against this backdrop, the advantages of mobile apps are pretty advantageous. First, patients are concerned about the financial aspect of treatment: while a consultation with a therapist can cost $150 or more (Lauretta, 2022), apps are usually free or pay no more than $10-$15 per month (Braun & Cronkleton, 2022). Not everyone with a mental disorder can pay for expensive consultations with therapists several times a week, but with apps, access to support is much easier (Lecomte et al., 2020). Second, some disorders allow people to work and support their families, but in that case, people do not have time for treatment, or the wait for counseling is too long. Apps solve this problem since any time of the day is available for daily meditation or reflection and recording one’s feelings and emotions in a control diary. Third, the social stigma of seeing a therapist is still relevant, and not all people can overcome it, even because of their beliefs. Apps provide access to verified information recommended by the ICD, and people feel more comfortable with just online help than acknowledging a diagnosis or disorder.
There is another limitation to getting offline therapy that mainly affects adolescents. Despite advances in medicine and social and gender equality, racism and homophobia remain a problem (Renn et al., 2019). Adolescents and young people belonging to an oppressed group are concerned that they cannot get psychological help because psychologists are not LGBTQ-friendly. Similar is the case with racism and sexism: black people worry that they will be prejudiced, and women worry that psychologists will work for socially acceptable patriarchal behavior. Online apps in this context are impersonal because they are informational resources without reference to gender, age, race, orientation, or other characteristics (Marshall et al., 2021). These characteristics are essential to building a treatment plan or adjusting targeting goals, but apps do not engage in hate speech based on them. Moreover, apps allow online inquiries to be sent if a person encounters similar attitudes offline. Thus, mobile apps overcome various limitations and difficulties.
Despite the many benefits provided by mobile apps, there are limitations in use that are currently not fully overcome. First and foremost, psychological distress occurs in a very diverse population, including those who are blind or visually impaired. A vision problem in and of itself causes anxiety for many people, and the lack of adapted apps continues to be a problem. Developing apps suitable for the visually impaired is an expensive and complex process requiring an entirely different interface and controls. Having beeps or vibrations is a valuable tool in this case, but funding and a development team that can handle the task are needed. Improved accessibility allows this problem to be overcome, but tailoring applications to a narrow audience is still very complex.
It should also be noted that another disadvantage of apps is the inability to monitor therapy in individuals with attention deficits (for example, ADHD). The app itself does not affect the level of well-being of people, and only they can strive to improve their condition using online services. The apps create plans and give information, but it is impossible to force a person to follow the recommendations because coercion is contrary to the meaning of therapy. App-based mental health treatment success depends on patients staying engaged and adhering to the plan. On the part of the patients, it requires effort, consistency, and adherence to their plans because otherwise, the app’s efficacy will be lacking. Instead, this problem can be attributed to any treatment in which the key to success is patient involvement in various tactics to prevent complications and worsening conditions. App mentions and notes are probably not yet enough to keep patients’ attention and engagement on plans, but personalization and interface expansion may solve this limitation.
One limitation concerns who uses the app and for what purpose. For children and teens, the online format is simple and convenient; they are happy to use apps because they quickly adapt to everything new. Learning is more accessible at a younger age, but apps can be a problem for the older population. First, not all elderly can provide themselves with a good smartphone and a paid app subscription. There are limitations in socioeconomic status, and mobile apps can be as much of a luxury as a therapist consultation. Second, the elderly population has a more challenging time transitioning to an unfamiliar format for receiving care (Renn et al., 2019). Although some people will find online convenient and accessible, apps will likely remain too difficult to understand, and they will not use them even if they have the opportunity. This is a limitation, but there is a way to provide this population with dedicated counseling hours. Most likely, separating by day and time would not increase the burden on the hospital but would distribute it evenly between those using the apps and the offline format.
Despite all the limitations of mobile apps, their effectiveness cannot be overlooked. If one analyzes the past pandemic, one can see that online services prevented not only the aggravation of the course of psychological diseases in patients but also reduced the risks of burnout in medical staff (Marshall et al., 2021). Existing apps have already attracted the attention of many who use them to track therapy, note treatment progress, and fight addiction. According to Healthline, promising apps include Modkit, Talkspace, iBreath, Recovery Record, I am Sober, and many others (Braun & Cronkleton, 2022). These apps provide condition assessments, create plans with short- and long-term goals, remind people to take their medications, water, and food, and offer meditation and breathing practices. Such apps are a tangible step forward in providing and delivering care to all populations worldwide. Their development, adaptation, and dissemination can lead to significant progress in dealing with mental health problems.
Conclusion
Mobile apps are state-of-the-art, handy tools for tracking individuals with mental disorders. The technology ensures that apps are constantly growing and progressing, individualized offerings tailor specific treatment plans, and low cost and free access make apps open to all. In addition, apps provide anxiety management, medication monitoring, and a wealth of information online. Existing limitations for those with vision problems, difficulty adapting to the online format in the elderly, and difficulty monitoring recommendations from concerns about the use of apps. Nevertheless, these issues are currently being discussed and adjusted to achieve a better interface between the user and the app for expert help and information.
References
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