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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether reducing smartphone use, particularly social media apps, can improve mental health in individuals with mild anxiety or depression. The study involves two groups: one will avoid specific social media apps like Facebook and Instagram, while the other will reduce overall smartphone use. It targets individuals who regularly use these apps and currently experience mild anxiety or depression. Participants must have access to a smartphone and email. The aim is to find a healthier balance for smartphone use without eliminating it entirely. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to understanding the impact of smartphone use on mental health.

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.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that reducing social media use can improve mental health. For example, studies have found that cutting back on social media can reduce anxiety and enhance overall well-being, with no reports of negative effects from simply using social media less.

Similarly, using smartphones less is linked to better mental health. Studies indicate that reducing screen time can help lower symptoms of depression and anxiety. People often feel less stressed and sleep better when they spend less time on their phones.

Both strategies—avoiding certain apps and reducing phone use—are safe to try. They focus on limiting screen time, which has no known harmful effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the methods being tested to reduce anxiety by decreasing smartphone use. Unlike typical treatments for anxiety, which often involve medication or therapy, these approaches focus on behavior modification, specifically reducing time spent on smartphones and avoiding social media apps like Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. This strategy is unique because it aims to directly address the potential negative impact of digital overuse on mental health, offering a non-pharmaceutical option that could empower individuals to manage their anxiety through lifestyle changes. By focusing on reducing smartphone dependency, researchers hope to find a practical and accessible method for alleviating anxiety symptoms.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing anxiety?

Research has shown that reducing social media use can greatly improve mental health. For instance, studies have found that young adults who spend less time on social media experience less depression. In this trial, one group of participants will avoid certain social media apps to test this effect. Similarly, cutting down on overall smartphone use can also be beneficial. Reducing screen time for just three weeks has been linked to lower stress, better sleep, and improved well-being. Another group in this trial will focus on a general decrease in smartphone use to evaluate these benefits. Thus, both avoiding certain social media apps and reducing smartphone use can enhance mental health. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gagandeep Singh, MD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7785056/

Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks ... • Interactive peer-to-peer features of social media enhance social functioning • Mobile apps can monitor symptoms, prevent relapses and help users set goals

2. apa.org apa.org/monitor/2023/11/benefits-limiting-social-media

In brief: Limiting social media boosts mental health, the ... Limiting daily social media use can significantly enhance the mental health of young adults, suggests research in Technology, Mind, and Behavior.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11392003/

Impacts of digital social media detox for mental health The aim of this study was to provide comprehensive insights into the effects of digital detox interventions on various mental health outcomes.

4. hhs.gov hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

Social Media and Youth Mental Health This Advisory calls attention to the growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth mental health. It explores and describes the current ...

5. aap.org aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/impact-of-limiting-time-spent-on-social-media/?srsltid=AfmBOoqN8deLirSWdxJkuD9N5tBIeKnjF4kyVm-ys1Tgm_ic2W8SU5_c

Impact of Limiting Time Spent on Social Media Results showed that: The limited use group with a 30-minute time limit had less depression symptoms than the control group. However, students ...

6. deconstructingstigma.org deconstructingstigma.org/guides/social-media

How Social Media Affects Mental Health It's not just in your head—social media can fuel anxiety, disrupt sleep, and leave you feeling alone in a crowd. Social media offers instant ...

7. who.int who.int/europe/news/item/25-09-2024-teens--screens-and-mental-health

Teens, screens and mental health Previous research has found that problematic social media users also reported lower mental and social well-being and higher levels of substance ...