Feasibility of mHealth interventions for depressive symptoms in Latin America: a systematic review

Abstract

Depression is a prevalent disorder and leading cause of disability in Latin America, where the mental health treatment gap is still above 50%. We sought to synthesise and assess the quality of the evidence on the feasibility of mHealth-based interventions for depression in Latin America. We conducted a literature search of studies published in 2007 and after using four electronic databases. We included peer-reviewed articles, in English, Spanish or Portuguese, that evaluated interventions for depressive symptoms. Two authors independently extracted data using forms developed a priori. We assessed appropriateness of reporting utilising the CONSORT checklist for feasibility trials. Eight manuscripts were included for full data extraction. Appropriate reporting varied greatly. Most (n = 6, 75%) of studies were conducted in primary care settings and sought to deliver psychoeducation or behaviour change interventions for depressive symptoms. We found great heterogeneity in the assessment of feasibility. Two studies used comparator conditions. mHealth research for depression in Latin America is scarce. Included studies showed some feasibility despite methodological inconsistencies. Given the dire need for evidence-based mental health interventions in this region, governments and stakeholders must continue promoting and funding research tailored to cultural and population characteristics with subsequent pragmatic clinical trials.

Keywords:

• m-health
• Latin America
• mental health
• smartphones
• mobile

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests regarding this manuscript´s contents. EV has received grants and served as consultant, advisor or CME speaker for the following entities: AB-Biotics, Abbott, Allergan, Angelini, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Farmindustria, Ferrer, Forest Research Institute, Galenica, Gedeon Richter, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, Raffo, Roche, Sage, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Shire, Sunovion, Takeda, the Brain and Behaviour Foundation, the Generalitat de Catalunya (PERIS), the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (CIBERSAM), EU Horizon 2020, and the Stanley Medical Research Institute. LAM is affiliated with several small businesses that develop and deploy digital therapeutics for behavioural health. These relationship are extensively managed by her academic institution, Dartmouth College.

Additional information

Funding

CEV received support from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, United States [K99/R00 ‘Pathway to Independence’ Award, Grant number 5K99MD012813-02]. DHM received support from ‘Juan Rodés’ grant [JR18/0002] from Instituto de Salud Carlos III. EV received support from a research grant funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [PI12/0091], Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación, and from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the Centro para la Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) as well as Secretaria d′Universitats i Recerca del Departament d′Economia i Coneixement [2017_SGR_1365]. LAM received support from the National Institute of Mental Health, United States [Grant number 1U19MH109988] and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, United States [Grant number P30DA029926].