JoyPop App for Mental Health in Students

Overseen By Aislin R Mushquash, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Lakehead University

Disqualifiers: Non-student, 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: 8 weeks

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 an app to improve mental health, so it's likely you can continue your medications, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.

What data supports the effectiveness of the JoyPop app treatment for mental health in students?

Research shows that smartphone apps can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially when they include engaging features. Apps using gamification, which turns activities into game-like experiences, have been effective in improving mental well-being and increasing user engagement. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the JoyPop app safe for use in humans?

The available research does not provide specific safety data for the JoyPop app, but it has been studied for its acceptance and feasibility among youth, suggesting it is generally considered safe for use in this population. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

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

The JoyPop app is unique because it focuses on improving emotion regulation and mental health symptoms through short exercises based on positive psychology, mindfulness, self-compassion, and acceptance and commitment therapy, making it a flexible and accessible tool for students to manage stress and mental health challenges. ^{8 11 12 13 14}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Students within post-secondary education settings are experiencing increasing stress, distress, and mental health difficulties. Many post-secondary education settings have identified student mental health and wellbeing as a priority and yet are struggling to adequately meet the needs of students. This has led to exploring whether technology can be used to help promote mental health and wellbeing among students. The JoyPop app is one mobile mental health app with a growing evidence base. It was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a key challenge among students struggling with distress and mental health difficulties. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, the primary objective of this research is to determine the effectiveness of the JoyPop app in improving emotion regulation among post-secondary students when compared to no intervention. The secondary objectives are to: (1) Assess change in mental health, wellbeing, and resilience between students in each condition to better understand the app's broader impact; (2) Conduct an economic analysis to determine whether receiving the app reduces other health service use and associated costs; (4) Assess students' perspective on the quality of the JoyPop app.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for post-secondary students aged 18-25 who speak and read English fluently. Participants must attend an orientation and need access to an iOS device to download the JoyPop app, which may be provided if they don't have one.

Inclusion Criteria

I am currently a college or university student.

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

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 8 weeks to improve emotion regulation

8 weeks

Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks (virtual assessments)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in mental health, wellbeing, and resilience after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• JoyPop

Trial Overview The effectiveness of the JoyPop mobile app in improving emotion regulation among students is being tested against no intervention using a randomized controlled trial design. The study also looks at mental health, wellbeing, resilience, cost-effectiveness, and user satisfaction with the app.

Participant Groups

Group I: JoyPop Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive access to the Joypop app for 8 weeks.

Group II: No Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

No intervention will be offered. After 8 weeks in the control condition, participants will be offered access to the JoyPop app.

JoyPop is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as JoyPop for:

• Emotion regulation difficulties
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lakehead University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

29

Recruited

3,900+

Findings from Research

Digital mental health apps have been shown to effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, with a small-to-medium overall effect size based on a meta-analysis of 25 studies involving 4159 participants.

Apps that included more engagement features tended to have larger effects on clinical outcomes, but surprisingly, there was a negative correlation between the use of persuasive system design features and user engagement, suggesting that simply adding features may not guarantee higher completion rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone apps for depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of techniques to increase engagement. Wu, A., Scult, MA., Barnes, ED., 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]

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]

Patients with anxiety or depression showed significant reductions in their symptoms, as measured by PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, after using the mindLAMP app in conjunction with clinical visits over a median of 83 days.

High engagement with the app did not directly correlate with better clinical outcomes, suggesting that factors like patient satisfaction with the app and clinician support may play a more critical role in treatment effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone app engagement and clinical outcomes in a hybrid clinic. Chang, S., Gray, L., Torous, J.[2023]

POD Adventures is a blended problem-solving game-based intervention designed for adolescents in India, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and user-testing with 126 participants, including students and service providers.

The intervention aims to provide accessible mental health support through a gamified app, emphasizing relatability and interactivity, and will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial to assess its effectiveness in low-resource school settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of the "POD Adventures" Smartphone Game: A Blended Problem-Solving Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health in India. Gonsalves, PP., Hodgson, ES., Kumar, A., et al.[2023]

A study of 73 mental health apps found that 64% claimed to be effective in diagnosing conditions or improving symptoms, but only one app cited published literature to support its claims.

While scientific language was often used to back up effectiveness claims (44%), many of these claims lacked high-quality evidence, highlighting the need for better validation and certification processes in app development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using science to sell apps: Evaluation of mental health app store quality claims. Larsen, ME., Huckvale, K., Nicholas, J., et al.[2020]

Psychological health mobile applications are being used for various purposes, including self-management, skills training, and symptom tracking, highlighting their versatility in supporting mental health.

Current evidence suggests that these apps can be effective tools in psychological health practice, but there is a need for careful evaluation of their quality and clinical utility.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone apps for psychological health: A brief state of the science review. Bush, NE., Armstrong, CM., Hoyt, TV.[2019]

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]

The JoyPop™ mobile app was well-received by Indigenous youth, with all five participants using it daily and finding it easy to navigate, indicating strong acceptability and feasibility for mental wellness support.

Participants highlighted the app's cultural resonance, particularly appreciating features like water sounds and the alignment with the 'Good Mind' perspective, while suggesting enhancements such as more gaming options and Indigenous design elements for better cultural appropriateness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the feasibility of a mental health application (JoyPopTM) for Indigenous youth. Au-Yeung, A., Marfatia, D., Beers, K., et al.[2023]

The smartphone app designed to promote mental well-being did not significantly increase 'Sharing, Mind, and Enjoyment' (SME) behaviors among adolescents, with only 11.2% of students using it with their parents, but it did enhance awareness of anxious symptoms significantly at both 1 and 3 months follow-up.

Post hoc analysis revealed that students who used the app with their parents showed a notable increase in SME-related behaviors at 3 months compared to the control group, suggesting that parental involvement may enhance the app's effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Smartphone App for Promoting Mental Well-being and Awareness of Anxious Symptoms in Adolescents: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Sun, Y., Wang, MP., Ho, SY., et al.[2022]

A transdiagnostic mobile app intervention was developed to help university students manage mental health issues like anxiety and depression through exercises based on various therapeutic approaches, with 200 students participating in a microrandomized trial over 3 weeks.

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the app in improving emotional regulation skills and reducing distress symptoms, with preliminary data showing high engagement rates (93.6% participation) and ongoing analysis to refine the intervention for future trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimization of a Transdiagnostic Mobile Emotion Regulation Intervention for University Students: Protocol for a Microrandomized Trial. Laure, T., Engels, RCME., Remmerswaal, D., et al.[2023]

The Minder app, designed specifically for university students, is being tested in a randomized controlled trial with 1496 participants to evaluate its effectiveness in improving mental health and reducing substance use over a 30-day period.

Primary outcomes include changes in anxiety, depression, and alcohol consumption, with assessments occurring at baseline, 2 weeks, and 30 days, aiming to provide scalable mental health support for students during a critical life transition.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Codeveloped e-Mental Health Intervention for University Students: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Wang, AY., Vereschagin, M., Richardson, CG., et al.[2023]

A study involving 265 college students using mental health apps for three weeks revealed that features like thought diaries and guided meditations, which are based on strong evidence, were particularly appreciated for their effectiveness in supporting self-care goals.

Students valued app functionalities such as progress tracking and crisis support resources, highlighting that a well-designed interface and comprehensive resources can enhance user engagement and motivation in mental health app usage.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

User experiences of college students using mental health applications to improve self-care: Implications for improving engagement. Nagar, R., Quirk, HD., Anderson, PL.[2023]

The Mentali platform, a mobile and web application developed for mental health screening, successfully identified 40 first-year medical students with positive screenings for anxiety and/or depression out of 155 participants over 22 weeks.

The study demonstrated that 65% of those identified accepted psychological support, confirming the effectiveness of Mentali as a tool for early detection of mental health issues in young adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of an Auxiliary Platform (Mentali) for the Primary Screening of Anxiety and Depression in Young Adults. Solis-Galvan, JA., Vazquez-Reyes, S., Garza-Veloz, I., et al.[2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone apps for depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of techniques to increase engagement. [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. 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]

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

Smartphone app engagement and clinical outcomes in a hybrid clinic. [2023]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of the "POD Adventures" Smartphone Game: A Blended Problem-Solving Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health in India. [2023]

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

Using science to sell apps: Evaluation of mental health app store quality claims. [2020]

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

Smartphone apps for psychological health: A brief state of the science review. [2019]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the feasibility of a mental health application (JoyPopTM) for Indigenous youth. [2023]

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

A Smartphone App for Promoting Mental Well-being and Awareness of Anxious Symptoms in Adolescents: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

11. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimization of a Transdiagnostic Mobile Emotion Regulation Intervention for University Students: Protocol for a Microrandomized Trial. [2023]

12. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Codeveloped e-Mental Health Intervention for University Students: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]

13. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

User experiences of college students using mental health applications to improve self-care: Implications for improving engagement. [2023]

14. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of an Auxiliary Platform (Mentali) for the Primary Screening of Anxiety and Depression in Young Adults. [2023]