Dear Øivind,

Maybe the following papers will help you:

Sucala M, Cuijpers P, Muench F, Cardoș R, Soflau R, Dobrean A, Achimas-Cadariu P, David D. Anxiety: There is an app for that. A systematic review of anxiety apps. Depress Anxiety. 2017;34(6):518-525. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/da.22654/abstract 

Cumino DO, Vieira JE, Lima LC, Stievano LP, Silva RA, Mathias LA. Smartphone-based behavioural intervention alleviates children's anxiety during anaesthesia induction: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2017;34(3):169-175. http://journals.lww.com/ejanaesthesiology/Abstract/2017/03000/Smartphone_based_behavioural_intervention.9.aspx

Alyami M, Giri B, Alyami H, Sundram F. Social anxiety apps: a systematic review and assessment of app descriptors across mobile store platforms. Evid Based Ment Health. 2017;20(3):65-70. http://ebmh.bmj.com/content/ebmental/20/3/65.full.pdf

Rubanovich CK, Mohr DC, Schueller SM. Health App Use Among Individuals With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: A Survey Study With Thematic Coding. JMIR Ment Health. 2017;4(2):e22. http://mental.jmir.org/article/viewFile/mental_v4i2e22/2

Mohr DC, Tomasino KN, Lattie EG, Palac HL, Kwasny MJ, Weingardt K, Karr CJ, Kaiser SM, Rossom RC, Bardsley LR, Caccamo L, Stiles-Shields C, Schueller SM. IntelliCare: An Eclectic, Skills-Based App Suite for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19(1):e10. http://www.jmir.org/article/viewFile/jmir_v19i1e10/2

Kenny R, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A. Ecological Momentary Assessment of Adolescent Problems, Coping Efficacy, and Mood States Using a Mobile Phone App: An Exploratory Study. JMIR Ment Health. 2016;3(4):e51. http://mental.jmir.org/article/viewFile/mental_v3i4e51/2

Liguori S, Stacchini M, Ciofi D, Olivini N, Bisogni S, Festini F. Effectiveness of an App for Reducing Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2016;170(8):e160533. https://flore.unifi.it/retrieve/handle/2158/1049474/166387/Effectiveness%20of%20an%20App.pdf

Lee JH, Jung HK, Lee GG, Kim HY, Park SG, Woo SC. Effect of behavioral intervention using smartphone application for preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2013;65(6):508-18. https://synapse.koreamed.org/pdf/10.4097/kjae.2013.65.6.508

Best wishes from Germany,

Martin 

Van Ameringen M, Turna J, Khalesi Z, Pullia K, Patterson B. There is an app for that! The current state of mobile applications (apps) for DSM-5 obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and mood disorders. Depress Anxiety. 2017;34(6):526-539. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/da.22657/abstract  

Dennis TA, O'Toole LJ. Mental Health on the Go: Effects of a Gamified Attention-Bias Modification Mobile Application in Trait-Anxious Adults. Clin Psychol Sci. 2014;2(5): 576-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447237/pdf/nihms620562.pdf

Dear Martin,

Thanks a lot! Some of the papers you listed are known to me, but especially the last two papers you added seem very interesting and where not on my radar! Thanks again for your great help! Highly appreciated!

Dear Øivind,

Thanks for your kind feedback. Maybe you already know the following studies:

Firth J, Torous J, Nicholas J, Carney R, Rosenbaum S, Sarris J. Can smartphone mental health interventions reduce symptoms of anxiety? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Affect Disord. 2017;218:15-22. http://www.jad-journal.com/article/S0165-0327(17)30015-0/pdf

Arean PA, Hallgren KA, Jordan JT, Gazzaley A, Atkins DC, Heagerty PJ, Anguera JA. The Use and Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Depression: Results From a Fully Remote Clinical Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2016;18(12):e330. http://www.jmir.org/article/viewFile/jmir_v18i12e330/2

Roepke AM, Jaffee SR, Riffle OM, McGonigal J, Broome R, Maxwell B. Randomized Controlled Trial of SuperBetter, a Smartphone-Based/Internet-Based Self-Help Tool to Reduce Depressive Symptoms. Games Health J. 2015;4(3):235-46. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/g4h.2014.0046?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed

https://annmarieroepke.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/superbetter-study-results-bulletin-8-15-13.pdf

Miner A, Kuhn E, Hoffman JE, Owen JE, Ruzek JI, Taylor CB. Feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the PTSD Coach app: A pilot randomized controlled trial with community trauma survivors. Psychol Trauma. 2016;8(3):384-92. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adam_Miner/publication/291948247_Feasibility_Acceptability_and_Potential_Efficacy_of_the_PTSD_Coach_App_A_Pilot_Randomized_Controlled_Trial_With_Community_Trauma_Survivors/links/5774a80408ae1b18a7de480a/Feasibility-Acceptability-and-Potential-Efficacy-of-the-PTSD-Coach-App-A-Pilot-Randomized-Controlled-Trial-With-Community-Trauma-Survivors.pdf

Kuhn E, Greene C, Hoffman J, Nguyen T, Wald L, Schmidt J, Ramsey KM, Ruzek J. Preliminary evaluation of PTSD Coach, a smartphone app for post-traumatic stress symptoms. Mil Med. 2014;179(1):12-8. http://militarymedicine.amsus.org/doi/pdf/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00271

Kuhn E, Eftekhari A, Hoffman JE, Crowley JJ, Ramsey KM, Reger GM, Ruzek JI. Clinician perceptions of using a smartphone app with prolonged exposure therapy. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2014;41(6):800-7. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kelly_Ramsey/publication/259626410_Clinician_Perceptions_of_Using_a_Smartphone_App_with_Prolonged_Exposure_Therapy/links/543e9d310cf2eaec07e6d920.pdf

Have a good day, Martin

Article Feasibility, Acceptability, and Potential Efficacy of the PT...

Article Clinician Perceptions of Using a Smartphone App with Prolong...

Thanks again Martin,

Some of them I have read, but not all:-) The most important thing for me is that the app is evidence -based, easy to use, almost self explanatory. So, this paper is spot on; 

Dennis TA, O'Toole LJ. Mental Health on the Go: Effects of a Gamified Attention-Bias Modification Mobile Application in Trait-Anxious Adults. Clin Psychol Sci. 2014;2(5): 576-90. 

This app could easily be translated/reprogrammed into an arabic version. This is important since the app will be used in a low threshold intervention for arabic speaking refugees and asylum seekers here in Norway.

So, again: thanks a lot!

Best, Øivind

Dear Øivind,

In addition to the aforementioned study (Clin Psychol Sci. 2014), this publication will probably be relevant to you:

Dennis-Tiwary TA, Egan LJ, Babkirk S, Denefrio S. For whom the bell tolls: Neurocognitive individual differences in the acute stress-reduction effects of an attention bias modification game for anxiety. Behav Res Ther. 2016;77:105-117. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4758525/pdf/nihms748817.pdf

All the best, Martin

Thanks! Very interesting findings there too. Especially the gender differences. Looking forward to reading these articles in depth. All best, Øivind