Apps that offer psychological support may be an effective tool to help young people with anxiety, a study suggests.
- While they cannot replace real psychotherapy, certain smartphone applications can help young adults suffering from health problems reduce their anxiety.
- The Maya app, for example, on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), used to help patients identify and challenge their negative or irrational thoughts, learn new ways to cope with stressful everyday situations…
- In a trial of 59 young adults, researchers found that participants appeared to “benefit from the platform in terms of reducing their anxiety levels.”
While they cannot replace real psychotherapy, certain smartphone applications can help young adults with health problems reduce their anxiety, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. This is particularly the case of the Maya platform, created by a team of researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University in the United States.
A cognitive behavioral therapy application
The app in question draws on a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is used to help patients identify and challenge negative or irrational thoughts, learn new ways to cope with stressful everyday situations, or develop skills to manage their emotions.
Designed to convey these types of coping strategies, Maya targets young adults aged 18 to 25, “a stressful age because we move from the family cocoon to university and professional life”we can read in a press release. Using a variety of videos, mental exercises and educational content, the app aims to provide all the necessary guidance to anxious users. “whenever they can’t reach a doctor for help”.
In a trial of 59 young adults, researchers found that most participants were drawn to using Maya for at least 11 of the 12 weeks of the study. They also didn’t delete it from their phones, even though “This is often the case when people download new apps”. And, generally speaking, “Volunteers appear to have benefited from the platform in terms of reducing their anxiety levels.”
Treating anxiety…while waiting to see a psychotherapist
“We hear a lot about the negative impact of technology use on the mental health of adolescents and young adults […] but it can also have advantages”points out Dr Faith Gunning, lead author of the study, in a press release. Indeed, digital “may provide a way to treat anxiety for some people who, even if they have access to mental health specialists, may not go.”
“Or if the app helps reduce their symptoms, then people might be able to take the next step and see a mental health professional if needed. Maya can be an effective tool to bridge the gap while they wait to see a therapist.”
