Usability and User-experience of CBT apps for depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of usability and user experience in the usage and adoption of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) apps for depression
IRAS ID
337279
Contact name
Jose Abdelnour-Nocera
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
(Head of Graduate School) University of West London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 29 days
Research summary
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) apps are effective means of reducing symptoms of depression. Yet, they have only made a slight impact on reducing the general burden of the disease (Vis et al., 2018, p. e9769). Studies show that usability and user experience are the two most common reasons users abandon these apps (Alqahtani and Orji, 2020, pp. 2042–2066).
Therefore, this study sets out to answer the research question. 'How can design driven by usability and user experience goals facilitate the widespread usage and adoption of CBT apps for depression'?
Usability is how well an individual can use a product to achieve a well-defined goal effectively and satisfactorily. User experience involves the whole experience of the users in interacting with a product (Standard and ISO, 2010, p. 27).This project is timely and necessary because depression and other mental health conditions are on the rise globally. Depression will be a leading contributor to disease burden in developed countries by 2030. Moreover, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has made treatment less accessible but created an increased urgency to strengthen ways to effectively treat symptoms of depression globally. This study will educate users on the qualities of an evidence-based CBT app to use in times of need. This study will recruit 20 participants and utilise two CBT-based apps, MoodMission (free) and MoodPrism (App Store £4:49 and £4:39 Google Play. Participants will be assigned to use one of the above apps for 28 days. Each app will take approximately 5 minutes to use. Participants will use the app at least once and maximum (3) times daily.
Participants are eligible if the person is either male or female, between 18 and 65,
has mild to moderate depression and is not currently suicidal. Not having severe mental health issues. English speaking and having access to the internet/mobile phone.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0210
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion