A randomized controlled trial on COGITO, a free self-help smartphone app to enhance mental well-being.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone apps may help to prevent the transition from minor to severe mental health problems. We compared a free self-help smartphone app (COGITO; www.uke.de/cogito_app) against a wait-list condition for the improvement of self-esteem and depression. METHODS: The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale represented the primary outcome in this controlled trial. The final sample (n = 213) was randomly assigned to either the app or to the control condition. RESULTS: The app condition significantly improved the primary outcome relative to controls for all analyses. Satisfaction of completers was high. The present results warrant independent replication; the retention rate needs to be increased to allow solid inferences about acceptance. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that the COGITO app may represent an effective self-help tool for psychological problems.

A mobile-based aftercare intervention to increase self-esteem in inpatients diagnosed with depression: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effectiveness, side effects and user satisfaction of the self-help smartphone app "MCT & More" among inpatients with a diagnosis of depression after their discharge from a psychiatric hospital over a period of 4 weeks. METHODS: A total of 159 inpatients were recruited in four German psychiatric hospitals three days before hospital discharge (intervention group: n = 79; treatment as usual: n = 80). Based on the vulnerability model (low self-esteem contributes to depression), self-esteem represented the primary outcome, quality of life and depressive symptoms the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analyzes showed no statistical significance for the primary and secondary outcome parameters, except for the subscale self-competence in favor of the intervention group (with a small effect size of d = 0.35), in the context of an exploratory approach (post hoc). The more positive the attitude toward mobile-based interventions and the more positive the treatment expectations, the more frequently the app was used (r = .35, p = .008; r = .34, p = .009). CONCLUSION: Further symptom reduction could not be obtained. However, the results suggest that an effect on improvement in self-competence could be achieved by low-threshold aftercare programs. Future studies should include long-term assessments to examine the impact of mobile-based aftercare on relapse.Trial registration: DRKS00022559.