Dataset Information

Efficacy of Self-Management Smartphone-Based Apps for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are prevalent in both civilian and military service members. As the number of smartphone-based applications (apps) grows rapidly in health care, apps are also increasingly used to help individuals with subthreshold PTSD or full PTSD. Yet, if the apps are self-managed, the feasibility and efficacy of such interventions are still rather unclear in these two populations with PTSD symptoms. Hence, the present meta-analysis set out to evaluate the effect of self-management smartphone-based apps on PTSD and depressive symptoms in populations with subthreshold PTSD or full PTSD. Studies were included if they conducted randomized controlled trials or pre-post comparisons. Six studies (n = 2 randomized controlled trials) were identified for meta-analysis. In pre-post comparisons, N = 209 participants were included in the analyses. In randomized controlled trials, N = 87 participants received smartphone-based self-management interventions and N = 82 participants were in waitlist control conditions. Meta-analysis for pre-post comparisons concluded an effect of g = 0.55 (p < 0.001) regarding the overall reduction in PTSD symptoms (n = 6) and g = 0.45 (p < 0.001) for reduction in depressive symptoms (n = 5). Yet, in randomized controlled trials, no significant difference was found between app-based treatment and waitlist control groups (g = 0.09, p = 0.574). The duration of the interventions did not significantly influence the results. Overall, despite positive pre-post effects, current results indicate that smartphone-apps for PTSD patients are not significantly more effective than waitlist control conditions. Nevertheless, a combined smartphone and standard therapy approach may be a fruitful field for future research.

SUBMITTER: Goreis A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6992648 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Efficacy of Self-Management Smartphone-Based Apps for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Goreis Andreas A Felnhofer Anna A Kafka Johanna Xenia JX Probst Thomas T Kothgassner Oswald D OD

Frontiers in neuroscience 20200124

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are prevalent in both civilian and military service members. As the number of smartphone-based applications (apps) grows rapidly in health care, apps are also increasingly used to help individuals with subthreshold PTSD or full PTSD. Yet, if the apps are self-managed, the feasibility and efficacy of such interventions are still rather unclear in these two populations with PTSD symptoms. Hence, the present meta-analysis set out to evaluate the effect ...[more]

PMID: 32038153

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Project description:BackgroundFirefighters, as first responders with a high risk of occupational exposure to traumatic events and heavy working stress, have a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. But no previous studies analyzed the relationships and hierarchies of PTSD and depressive symptoms among firefighters. Network analysis is a novel and effective method for investigating the complex interactions of mental disorders at the symptom level and providing a new understanding of psychopathology. The current study was designed to characterize the PTSD and depressive symptoms network structure in the Chinese firefighters.MethodThe Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were applied to assess PTSD and depressive symptoms, respectively. The network structure of PTSD and depressive symptoms was characterized using "expected influence (EI)" and "bridge EI" as centrality indices. The Walktrap algorithm was conducted to identify communities in the PTSD and depressive symptoms network. Finally, Network accuracy and stability were examined using the Bootstrapped test and the case-dropping procedure.ResultsA total of 1,768 firefighters were enrolled in our research. Network analysis revealed that the relationship between PTSD symptoms, "Flashback" and "Avoidance," was the strongest. "Life emptiness" was the most central symptom with the highest EI in the PTSD and depression network model. Followed by "Fatigue" and "Interest loss." Bridge symptoms connecting PTSD and depressive symptoms in our study were "Numb," "High alertness," "Sad mood," and "Compunction and blame," successively. The data-driven community detection suggested the differences in PTSD symptoms in the clustering process. The reliability of the network was approved by both stability and accuracy tests.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, the current study first demonstrated the network structure of PTSD and depressive symptoms among Chinese firefighters, identifying the central and bridge symptoms. Targeting interventions to the symptoms mentioned above may effectively treat firefighters suffering from PTSD and depressive symptoms.

Project description:BackgroundSelf-stigma refers to the internalisation of negative societal views and stereotypes. Self-stigma has been well-characterised in the context of mental disorders such as schizophrenia but has received little attention in relation to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).ObjectiveThis work aimed to determine the prevalence of self-stigma in a sample of adults with PTSD and to establish factors associated with the internalisation of stigma in this population.MethodParticipants were 194 adults (mean age 46.07 (SD = 12.39); 64.4% female; 96.6% white Caucasian; residing in the UK), who self-reported a diagnosis of PTSD and currently screened positive for the disorder according to the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Structured interviews and validated self-report questionnaires were used to ascertain clinical and sociodemographic information for analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of self-stigma measured by the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS) was 41.2% (95% CI 34.24-48.22). There was no evidence of an association between self-stigma and gender (β = -2.975 (95% CI -7.046-1.097) p = .151), age (β = 0.007 (95% CI -0.152-0.165) p = .953), sexual trauma (β = 0.904 (95% CI -3.668-5.476) p = .697), military trauma (β = -0.571 (95% CI -4.027-7.287) p = .571). Self-stigma was associated with lower income and higher levels of anxiety (β = 5.722 (95% CI 2.922-8.522) p = <.001), depression (β = 6.937 (95% CI 4.287-9.588) p = <.000), and traumatic stress symptoms (β = 3.880 (95% CI 1.401-6.359) p = .002).ConclusionsThe results indicate that self-stigma may be a significant issue among people with a diagnosis of PTSD. Further work is needed to understand the long-term impact and to develop interventions to address the internalisation of stigma in this population.HighlightsThe prevalence of self-stigma among a sample of participants with PTSD was 41.2%.There was no evidence of an association between self-stigma and gender, age or sexual / military trauma.Self-stigma was associated with lower income and higher levels of anxiety, depression, and traumatic stress symptoms.

Dataset Information

Efficacy of Self-Management Smartphone-Based Apps for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Publications

Efficacy of Self-Management Smartphone-Based Apps for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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