Reducing Smartphone Use for Anxiety

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Must not be taking: SSRIs, SNRIs

Disqualifiers: Suicide risk, Drug use, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are taking prescribed SSRIs or SNRIs and have changed your dosage in the last 30 days, you may be excluded from the study.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Avoiding Social Media Apps and General decrease in smartphone use for reducing anxiety?

Research shows that non-social smartphone use is more strongly linked to problematic smartphone use, which is associated with anxiety. Reducing overall smartphone use, especially social media, may help decrease anxiety by minimizing this problematic use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is reducing smartphone use safe for humans?

Reducing smartphone use is generally considered safe and may even improve mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, stress, and improving sleep quality. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How does the treatment of reducing smartphone use for anxiety differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on reducing smartphone use, particularly social media apps, to alleviate anxiety, unlike traditional treatments that might involve medication or therapy. It addresses the behavioral aspect of anxiety by targeting problematic smartphone use, which is linked to increased anxiety levels. ^{2 8 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to assess if excessive use of smartphone apps of social media can impact a person's mental health. The study is aimed at improving the usage of smartphones which might help improve the mental health of patients. The goal is not to discourage the use of smartphones but instead to utilize smartphones in a way that they do not impact lives.

Research Team

Gagandeep Singh, MD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals experiencing anxiety who frequently use smartphones, particularly social media apps. Participants should be willing to modify their smartphone usage habits.

Inclusion Criteria

Patient should have a smartphone and should be using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, and Pinterest social media apps

I am 18 or older with mild anxiety or depression, scoring 5 or more on the GAD-7.

I have access to email.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient with suicidal ideation as per PHQ-9 assessment before or during the study period

Patient who uses more than one personal smartphone

Patient who is a suicide risk as per PHQ-9 score, current recreational drug usage, or alcohol abuse

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants will limit their time on smartphones, with some avoiding specific social media apps

12 weeks

Regular self-reports and assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety and depression using GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Avoiding Social Media Apps
• General decrease in smartphone use

Trial Overview The study investigates whether reducing the use of social media apps or generally decreasing smartphone usage can alleviate anxiety symptoms. It aims to find healthier smartphone habits.

Participant Groups

Group I: General decrease in smartphone use. Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will limit their time on smartphone.

Group II: Avoid certain social media apps Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will limit time on smartphone, in particular avoiding use of social media apps on the smartphone which includes Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Findings from Research

A review of 3,278 mobile apps for anxiety disorders in Brazil found that only 71 met the eligibility criteria, with most apps focusing on education, self-assessment, and meditation, but only 43.66% were rated as having acceptable quality according to the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS).

There was a notable discrepancy between user star ratings and the quality assessed by MARS, indicating that users should be cautious when selecting these apps for managing anxiety disorders, as many apps were classified as low quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of mobile applications focused on the care of patients with anxiety disorders: A systematic review in app stores in Brazil. Souza do Nascimento, V., Teotonio Rodrigues, A., Rotta, I., et al.[2023]

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-supplemented internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program for anxiety disorders, involving 150 participants diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder.

The trial will compare three groups: one receiving iCBT with therapist support, one without support, and a control group, assessing outcomes over time to determine both immediate and long-term effects of the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guided and unguided CBT for social anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder via the Internet and a smartphone application: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Lindner, P., Ivanova, E., Ly, KH., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anxiety: There is an app for that. A systematic review of anxiety apps. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Depression, anxiety and fear of missing out as correlates of social, non-social and problematic smartphone use. [2021]

3. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of smartphone-based mental health interventions for depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2022]

4. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of mobile applications focused on the care of patients with anxiety disorders: A systematic review in app stores in Brazil. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guided and unguided CBT for social anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder via the Internet and a smartphone application: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Excessive Smartphone Use is Associated with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Sleep Quality of Australian Adults. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increasing intolerance of uncertainty over time: the potential influence of increasing connectivity. [2020]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is screen time associated with anxiety or depression in young people? Results from a UK birth cohort. [2023]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Problematic Smartphone Use Influences the Relationship Between Experiential Avoidance and Anxiety. [2022]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Studies on the Relationship between Social Anxiety and Excessive Smartphone Use and on the Effects of Abstinence and Sensation Seeking on Excessive Smartphone Use. [2020]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone addiction risk, technology-related behaviors and attitudes, and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2022]