A qualitative study exploring the digital therapeutic alliance with fully automated smartphone apps.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Digital mental health interventions are increasingly used to scale up access to mental health support, yet very few mental health apps are empirically supported, with high attrition rates. The therapeutic alliance between therapists and clients is a key factor in predicting psychological therapy retention and outcomes. Understanding how this concept translates to the digital context, the so-called digital therapeutic alliance (DTA), may help enhance retention and outcomes in digital mental health.

Objectives

To explore and conceptualise the DTA with mental health interventions delivered by standalone apps. Specifically: (1) whether people with mental health difficulties form an alliance with mental health apps; (2) what constitutes the DTA; and (3) the similaritie

SUBMITTER: Brotherdale R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11648025 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature