JoyPop App for Mental Health

Overseen By Aislin R Mushquash, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Lakehead University

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Over 25, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 4 weeks

110 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

New challenges, stressors, and a loss of support often accompany the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Not surprisingly, transitional-aged youth (TAY) between the ages of 18-25 experience some of the highest rates of mental distress. However, access to mental health services diminish for TAY due to gaps in care when transitioning from pediatric to adult services. These challenges are exacerbated in rural communities, such as in Northwestern Ontario, where youth already access mental health services less frequently and face longer wait times than those in more urban areas. Limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase the risk for adverse outcomes. Novel, innovative approaches are urgently needed to support TAY in Northwestern Ontario. In partnership with St. Joseph Care Group and Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, the investigators are evaluating the impact of a mental health app (JoyPop) as a tool for TAY waiting for mental health services. The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a fundamental difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the app compared to usual practice while TAY are waiting for mental health services.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on using the JoyPop app alongside usual practices.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App, JoyPop?

The JoyPop app has shown promise in improving emotion regulation and mental health symptoms among youth, according to a study on its acceptance. Additionally, mobile health apps, in general, have been found to be effective in increasing access to mental health care and engaging users in treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the JoyPop app safe for use in humans?

The available research does not specifically address the safety of the JoyPop app, but mobile mental health apps, in general, are viewed positively by users. Factors like ease of use, usefulness, and privacy are important for user satisfaction and engagement. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How is the JoyPop app treatment different from other mental health treatments?

The JoyPop app is unique because it is a mobile health app designed to improve emotion regulation and mental health symptoms in youth by fostering resilience, making it an accessible and scalable option for those who may not have access to traditional mental health services. ^{1 10 11 12 13}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for transitional-aged youth (TAY) aged 18-25 in Northwestern Ontario who are experiencing mental distress and waiting for mental health services. It's designed to help those struggling with emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, or stress.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants will need access to an iOS device (e.g., iPhone, iPad) to download the JoyPop app. Refurbished iPhones containing just the JoyPop app will be provided to participants to use for the duration of the trial if they do not have access to their own.

I am 18-25 years old and waiting for mental health services at St. Joseph's or Thunder Bay.

I can attend an orientation session, either online or in person.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive access to the JoyPop app for 4 weeks while being monitored through existing wait-list practices

4 weeks

Baseline, 2 weeks (mid), 4 weeks (post)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in emotion regulation and mental health difficulties after the treatment phase

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App

Trial Overview The study tests the JoyPop mobile app as a tool to support TAY while they wait for professional mental health services. Participants will either use their usual practices without the app or incorporate JoyPop into their routine. The effectiveness of JoyPop compared to usual practice is being evaluated through a randomized controlled trial.

Participant Groups

Group I: Usual Practice + JoyPop Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through the existing wait-list practices, and will receive access to the JoyPop app for 4 weeks.

Group II: Usual Practice Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices. After 4 weeks in the Usual Practice condition, participants will be offered access to the JoyPop app.

JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as JoyPop for:

• Stress
• Emotional Processing
• Depression

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lakehead University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

29

Recruited

3,900+

Findings from Research

The JoyPop™ app was well-received by both youth (6 participants aged 12-17) and mental health service providers (7 participants aged 32-60), with users finding it easy to learn and use, and beneficial for accessing coping skills and improving mental health outcomes.

Both groups expressed positive feelings about the app's integration into traditional mental health services, although they also raised concerns about mobile health apps in general and provided suggestions for improvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Female youth and mental health service providers' perspectives on the JoyPop™ app: a qualitative study. Malik, I., Perez, A., Toombs, E., et al.[2023]

Mobile applications have been shown to effectively reduce symptoms in patients with mental disorders, including depression, mania, and psychosis, based on a systematic review of 14 randomized controlled trials involving 1307 patients.

Interventions that include features like feedback, notifications, and data tracking lead to better outcomes, suggesting that well-designed mobile apps can serve as valuable supplements to traditional clinical treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of mobile applications for patients with severe mental illness: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Kim, SK., Lee, M., Jeong, H., et al.[2022]

Mobile applications can significantly enhance mental health services by increasing access to evidence-based care and actively engaging patients in their treatment process.

There is a need for further research to validate the effectiveness of these mobile applications in clinical practice, focusing on usability, adherence, and their overall impact on treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth: a mechanism to deliver more accessible, more effective mental health care. Price, M., Yuen, EK., Goetter, EM., et al.[2022]

A study involving 149 veterans with mental health conditions found that interest in mobile health (MH) apps was consistent across different demographic groups, including race, sex, and education level.

Interestingly, older patients and those with less severe symptoms showed less interest in MH apps, suggesting that these apps may appeal to a broader range of patients than traditional clinic-based services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient interest in mental health mobile app interventions: Demographic and symptom-level differences. Lipschitz, JM., Connolly, SL., Miller, CJ., et al.[2021]

Mobile phone-based psychotherapies, including apps and text messages, are feasible and generally acceptable for treating various mental health disorders, as shown by a review of 24 studies with good retention rates.

While these interventions show potential benefits for mental health outcomes, the evidence on their effectiveness in real-world settings is still limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychotherapeutic Applications of Mobile Phone-based Technologies: A Systematic Review of Current Research and Trends. Menon, V., Rajan, TM., Sarkar, S.[2022]

Consumers generally view mobile mental health apps positively, highlighting their potential to supplement traditional mental health care rather than replace it.

To enhance user engagement, app developers should focus on factors such as ease of use, content usefulness, privacy, and personalization to meet individual needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

User perceptions of mobile digital apps for mental health: Acceptability and usability - An integrative review. Chan, AHY., Honey, MLL.[2022]

A meta-analysis of 19 trials involving 3681 participants found that standalone smartphone apps significantly reduced symptoms of depression and smoking behavior, with effect sizes indicating moderate efficacy (Hedges' g = 0.33 for depression and g = 0.39 for smoking).

However, the analysis did not find significant effects for anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-injury, or alcohol use, suggesting that while some apps may help with specific issues, they cannot be recommended as standalone treatments for mental health based on current evidence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Standalone smartphone apps for mental health-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Weisel, KK., Fuhrmann, LM., Berking, M., et al.[2020]

A consensus framework for assessing e-mental health apps was developed by 25 Canadian stakeholders, emphasizing the need for evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and user-centered evaluations to help consumers identify high-quality apps.

The framework includes 9 guiding principles and 15 criteria, focusing on aspects like effectiveness, usability, security, and inclusivity, which are tailored to meet the diverse needs of Canadian users, setting it apart from other assessment tools.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Assessment Framework for e-Mental Health Apps in Canada: Results of a Modified Delphi Process. Zelmer, J., van Hoof, K., Notarianni, M., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 13 studies suggests that casual video games (CVGs) can be effective in treating mental health issues like anxiety, depression, stress, and low mood.

The review highlights the potential of CVGs as an accessible and engaging alternative treatment option, especially for individuals who may not engage with traditional mental health treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Casual Videogames on Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Low Mood: A Systematic Review. Pine, R., Fleming, T., McCallum, S., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of 52 studies on mental health apps (MHapps) found that these apps can effectively reduce mental health symptoms and improve well-being, with a small effect size for symptom reduction (Hedges g=-0.24) and a medium effect for emotion regulation (g=0.49).

Despite the promising outcomes, many studies had unclear or high risk of bias, indicating a need for more rigorous research to ensure the effectiveness and quality of MHapps, especially those targeting emotion regulation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile Apps That Promote Emotion Regulation, Positive Mental Health, and Well-being in the General Population: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eisenstadt, M., Liverpool, S., Infanti, E., et al.[2023]

A review of 92 mental health apps for depression and anxiety revealed that half did not meet basic accessibility standards, and 20% failed to ensure security and privacy, raising concerns about their safety and effectiveness.

Only one app out of the most visible ten on app stores met all quality criteria, indicating a disconnect between app popularity and actual quality, which could mislead vulnerable users seeking mental health support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic assessment of the quality and integrity of popular mental health smartphone apps using the American Psychiatric Association's app evaluation model. Rickard, NS., Kurt, P., Meade, T.[2022]

A review of 92 mental health screening and diagnostic apps revealed that while 65% of user reviews were positive, many apps suffer from high dropout rates due to issues with functionality and accessibility.

Common features like mood tracking were present in 74% of the apps, but improvements in performance and user experience are needed to enhance sustained use and effectiveness in supporting mental health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth Solutions for Mental Health Screening and Diagnosis: A Review of App User Perspectives Using Sentiment and Thematic Analysis. Funnell, EL., Spadaro, B., Martin-Key, N., et al.[2022]

The gamified mobile mental health app eQuoo significantly improved resilience, personal growth, and psychological well-being in 358 participants over a 5-week randomized controlled trial, compared to control groups.

With a high adherence rate of 90%, eQuoo retained 21% more participants than the control or waitlist groups, suggesting that gamification can enhance engagement and reduce dropout rates in mental health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gamification as an approach to improve resilience and reduce attrition in mobile mental health interventions: A randomized controlled trial. Litvin, S., Saunders, R., Maier, MA., et al.[2020]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Female youth and mental health service providers' perspectives on the JoyPop™ app: a qualitative study. [2023]

2. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of mobile applications for patients with severe mental illness: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth: a mechanism to deliver more accessible, more effective mental health care. [2022]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient interest in mental health mobile app interventions: Demographic and symptom-level differences. [2021]

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

Psychotherapeutic Applications of Mobile Phone-based Technologies: A Systematic Review of Current Research and Trends. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

User perceptions of mobile digital apps for mental health: Acceptability and usability - An integrative review. [2022]

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

Standalone smartphone apps for mental health-a systematic review and meta-analysis. [2020]

8. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Assessment Framework for e-Mental Health Apps in Canada: Results of a Modified Delphi Process. [2023]

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

The Effects of Casual Videogames on Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Low Mood: A Systematic Review. [2021]

10. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile Apps That Promote Emotion Regulation, Positive Mental Health, and Well-being in the General Population: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. [2023]

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

Systematic assessment of the quality and integrity of popular mental health smartphone apps using the American Psychiatric Association's app evaluation model. [2022]

12. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth Solutions for Mental Health Screening and Diagnosis: A Review of App User Perspectives Using Sentiment and Thematic Analysis. [2022]

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

Gamification as an approach to improve resilience and reduce attrition in mobile mental health interventions: A randomized controlled trial. [2020]