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BackgroundDespite the rapidly growing number of digital assessment tools for screening and diagnosing mental health disorders, little is known about their diagnostic accuracy. ObjectiveThe purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to establish the diagnostic accuracy of question- and answer-based digital assessment tools for diagnosing a range of highly prevalent psychiatric conditions in the adult population. MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) will be used. The focus of the systematic review is guided by the population, intervention, comparator, and outcome framework (PICO). We will conduct a comprehensive systematic literature search of MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) for appropriate articles published from January 1, 2005. Two authors will independently screen the titles and abstracts of identified references and select studies according to the eligibility criteria. Any inconsistencies will be discussed and resolved. The two authors will then extract data into a standardized form. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool, and a descriptive analysis and meta-analysis will summarize the diagnostic accuracy of the identified digital assessment tools. ResultsThe systematic review and meta-analysis commenced in November 2020, with findings expected by May 2021. ConclusionsThis systematic review and meta-analysis will summarize the diagnostic accuracy of question- and answer-based digital assessment tools. It will identify implications for clinical practice, areas for improvement, and directions for future research. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020214724; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020214724. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/25382

Background: Menopause presents a period of heightened vulnerability for mental health issues. Despite this, mental health screening is not consistently integrated into menopausal health care, and access to psychological interventions is limited. Digital technologies, such as web and smartphone apps, may offer a way to facilitate and improve mental health care provision throughout menopause. However, little is known about potential users' intention to use such technologies during this critical phase of life., Objective: To examine the factors that impact the intention of potential users to use a mental health app during menopause, we used the Health Belief Model (HBM), a psychological framework widely used to understand and predict individuals' health-related behaviors., Methods: An online survey was generated. Convenience sampling was used, with participants recruited via social media and email, through relevant foundations and support groups, and by word of mouth. Structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation was conducted to explore whether the factor structure of the HBM is a good fit for predicting the intention to use a mental health app for menopause. A Cronbach α value of .05 was used for determining statistical significance., Results: A total of 1154 participants commenced the survey, of which 82.49% (n=952) completed at least 97% of the survey. Of these, 86.76% (n=826) expressed that their menopausal symptoms had negatively affected their mental health, and went on to answer questions regarding their experiences and interest in using a web or smartphone app for mental health symptoms related to menopause. Data from this subgroup (N=826) were analyzed. In total, 74.09% (n=612) of respondents sought online help for mental health symptoms related to menopause. The most common topics searched for were symptom characteristics (n=435, 52.66%) and treatment or therapy options (n=210, 25.42%). Psychoeducation (n=514, 62.23%) was the most desired mental health app feature, followed by symptom tracking (n=499, 60.41%) and self-help tips (n=469, 56.78%). In terms of the intention to use a mental health app, the Satorra-Bentler-scaled fit statistics indicated a good fit for the model (χ2278=790.44, P<.001; comparative fit index=0.933, root mean square error of approximation=0.047, standardized root mean square residual=0.056), with cues to action emerging as the most significant predictor of intention (β=.48, P<.001). This was followed by perceived barriers (β=-.25, P<.001), perceived susceptibility (β=.15, P<.001), and perceived benefits (β=.13, P<.001). Perceived severity (β=.01, P=.869) and self-efficacy (β=.03, P=.286) were not significantly associated with behavioral intention., Conclusions: This study reveals important factors that influence the intention to use a mental health app during menopause. It emphasizes the need to address barriers to app usage, while highlighting the impact of credible endorsements and psychoeducation. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of improving accessibility for users with lower digital literacy or limited resources., (©Nayra A Martin-Key, Erin L Funnell, Jiri Benacek, Benedetta Spadaro, Sabine Bahn. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 16.10.2024.)

Background: Mental health care provision in the United Kingdom is overwhelmed by a high demand for services. There are high rates of under-, over-, and misdiagnosis of common mental health disorders in primary care and delays in accessing secondary care. This negatively affects patient functioning and outcomes. Digital tools may offer a time-efficient avenue for the remote assessment and triage of mental health disorders that can be integrated directly into existing care pathways to support clinicians. However, despite the potential of digital tools in the field of mental health, there remain gaps in our understanding of how the intended user base, people with lived experiences of mental health concerns, perceive these technologies., Objective: This study explores the perspectives and attitudes of individuals with lived experiences of mental health concerns on mental health apps that are designed to support self-assessment and triage., Methods: A semistructured interview approach was used to explore the perspectives of the interviewees using 5 open-ended questions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim from audio data recordings. The average interview lasted 46 minutes (rounded to the nearest min; SD 12.93 min). A thematic analysis was conducted., Results: Overall, 16 individuals were interviewed in this study. The average age was 42.25 (SD 15.18) years, half of the interviewees identified as women (8/16, 50%), and all were White (16/16, 100%). The thematic analysis revealed six major themes: (1) availability and accessibility, (2) quality, (3) attitudes, (4) safety, (5) impact, and (6) functionality., Conclusions: Engaging in clear communication regarding data security and privacy policies, adopting a consent-driven approach to data sharing, and identifying gaps in the app marketplace to foster the inclusion of a range of mental health conditions and avoid oversaturation of apps for common mental health disorders (eg, depression and anxiety) were identified as priorities from interviewees' comments. Furthermore, reputation was identified as a driver of uptake and engagement, with endorsement from a respected source (ie, health care provider, academic institution) or direct recommendation from a trusted health care professional associated with increased interest and trust. Furthermore, there was an interest in the role that co-designed digital self-assessments could play in existing care pathways, particularly in terms of facilitating informed discussions with health care professionals during appointments and by signposting individuals to the most appropriate services. In addition, interviewees discussed the potential of mental health apps to provide waiting list support to individuals awaiting treatment by providing personalized psychoeducation, self-help tips, and sources of help. However, concerns regarding the quality of care being affected because of digital delivery have been reported; therefore, frequent monitoring of patient acceptability and care outcomes is warranted. In addition, communicating the rationale and benefits of digitizing services will likely be important for securing interest and uptake from health care service users., (©Erin L Funnell, Benedetta Spadaro, Nayra A Martin-Key, Jiri Benacek, Sabine Bahn. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 23.02.2024.)