Could mental health applications lead to overdiagnosis?

In a new Australian study, researchers at the University of Sydney sought to find out how popular mental health applications tend to represent mental health and what applications offer in terms of diagnosis and management.

61 popular mental health applications available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia at the end of 2016, focusing on applications that explicitly mention mental health diagnoses or symptoms and offered diagnoses, advice or health claims.

Dominant Messages Among Applications: Poor or fragile mental health is very common, and individuals can easily manage their own mental health problems with applications.

The results are published in Annals of Family Medicine. [19659002] The study builds on the earlier work of the Collaboration Evidence, Policy and Influence Center Charles Perkins of the University of Sydney, and was conducted with the University. s School of Pharmacy, Western Sydney Local Health District and Adelaide University

Researchers say the findings are worrisome for a number of reasons

"Involving mental health problems in everyone promotes the medicalization of states, "said lead author Dr. Lisa Parker, a postdoctoral fellow badociated with the Charles Perkins Center at the University of Sydney and at the School of Pharmacy." The applications that we evaluated tended to encourage frequent use and encouraged personal responsibility for improvement. "

" The idea that the ups and downs of daily life require treatment could push these people to These users are unlikely to gain significant benefits, but they may be wasting a lot of time and losing their privacy. "[19] 659002] According to Parker, users of the app could have different opinions about what constitutes normal psychological experiences in order to prevent overdiagnosis. At the same time, she adds, it might be helpful for people with serious mental health problems to hear the doctors discuss the limitations of using apps as well as the importance of looking for things to do. Other forms of health care.

Lead author, Dr. Quinn Grundy of the Charles Perkins Center and Faculty of Pharmacy, agreed that health professionals have a responsibility to counter certain messages conveyed by these applications

"The Smartphone is one of the most powerful communication tools. apps have the potential to increase social support for users. Yet, popular mental health apps are largely focused on individual self-help solutions and personal responsibility. This creates a lot of silence around the external and social factors related to mental health, "said Grundy.

"For people who have serious problems, we fear that they can and must manage their mental health problems themselves.

Parker also worries that advertising material tends to portray potential users as employees, whites and in a family.

"Lack of diversity in user representation and stressors may alienate

Source: University of Sydney

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