Kikas Katarina, O'Moore Kathleen, Miller Rosemaree Kathleen, Matheson Julie-Anne Therese, Li Sophie, Varghese Kathleen, Baldwin Peter, Cockayne Nicole, Whitton Alexis Estelle, Newby Jill Maree
Black Dog Institute, Randwick, Australia.
School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2025 Jun 11;12:e69499. doi: 10.2196/69499.
Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Low user engagement and uptake of DMHIs observed in previous research may be addressed by involving the intended target audience in the design of the DMHI from the outset.
This study is phase 1 of a multiphase project aimed at designing, developing, and evaluating a blended DMHI for depression and anxiety in Australia. Our objective was to partner with adults with lived and living experiences of depression and anxiety on their needs and expectations of a new transdiagnostic DMHI for depression and anxiety. This included identifying strategies that would help increase their engagement with the DMHI and their preferences for integrating the DMHI with psychotherapy.
A mixed methods participatory design approach was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data via a web-based survey (n=324) and semistructured interviews (n=21). Feedback was collected on participants' needs and expectations for the DMHI, including accessibility, content, features, functionality, format, data sharing, preferred clinical support pathways, and barriers to and facilitators of user engagement. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Most participants (190/257, 73.9%) preferred a DMHI delivered as a smartphone app that could be used at any time of the day. Ease of use and a well-designed interface were important, as was a positive, encouraging, and uplifting DMHI look and feel. Other preferences included symptom tracking, diverse therapeutic content, and features that facilitated social connection and peer support (eg, online community and stories of lived and living experience). Participants also suggested several strategies to enhance engagement with the DMHI, including personalization, reminders, short and achievable activities, and goal setting. Participants reported a strong interest in sharing information from their DMHI with mental health professionals (to facilitate therapy), especially regarding changes to their emotions.
Transdiagnostic DMHIs for depression and anxiety have great potential to improve access to affordable, evidence-based mental health support. Involving people with lived and living experiences of depression and anxiety in the design, development, and conceptualization of DMHIs may improve uptake, acceptance, engagement, usability, and ultimately, treatment outcomes.
数字心理健康干预措施（DMHIs）在减轻抑郁和焦虑症状方面有效。先前研究中观察到的DMHIs用户参与度低和采用率低的问题，可通过从一开始就让目标受众参与DMHI的设计来解决。
本研究是一个多阶段项目的第一阶段，旨在设计、开发和评估一种针对澳大利亚抑郁和焦虑的混合式DMHI。我们的目标是与有抑郁和焦虑生活经历的成年人合作，了解他们对一种新的跨诊断抑郁和焦虑DMHI的需求和期望。这包括确定有助于提高他们对DMHI的参与度以及他们对将DMHI与心理治疗相结合的偏好的策略。
采用混合方法参与式设计方法，通过基于网络的调查（n = 324）和半结构化访谈（n = 21）收集定量和定性数据。收集了参与者对DMHI的需求和期望的反馈，包括可及性、内容、功能、特性、形式、数据共享、首选的临床支持途径以及用户参与的障碍和促进因素。使用反思性主题分析对定性访谈数据进行分析。
大多数参与者（190/257，73.9%）更喜欢以智能手机应用程序形式提供的DMHI，该应用程序可在一天中的任何时间使用。易用性和设计良好的界面很重要，积极、鼓舞人心且令人振奋的DMHI外观和感觉也很重要。其他偏好包括症状跟踪、多样的治疗内容以及促进社交联系和同伴支持的功能（如在线社区和生活经历故事）。参与者还提出了几种提高对DMHI参与度的策略，包括个性化、提醒、简短且可实现的活动以及目标设定。参与者表示非常有兴趣与心理健康专业人员分享他们DMHI中的信息（以促进治疗），特别是关于他们情绪变化的信息。
针对抑郁和焦虑的跨诊断DMHIs在改善获得负担得起的循证心理健康支持方面具有巨大潜力。让有抑郁和焦虑生活经历的人参与DMHIs的设计、开发和概念化可能会提高采用率、接受度、参与度、可用性，并最终改善治疗效果。
