If you have a smartphone, tablet, or “phablet” (phone tablets), you may have noticed that there are many mobile applications, or apps, marketed as support for people with depression. Some of these apps aim to provide treatment and education. Other apps offer tools to help you assess yourself, manage your symptoms, and explore resources.
With a few taps on the screen, you could have information and tools to help your depression in the palm of your hand. But, just like with online health information, it is important to find an app that you can trust.
Here are a few things that are important to remember about mobile apps for depression:
- Some apps provide reliable, science-based health information and tools. Some do not.
- Some app developers consult doctors, researchers, and other experts to develop their app. Others do not.
- A mobile app should not replace seeing your doctor or other health care provider.
- Talk to your doctor before making any changes recommended by any online or mobile source.
Quick Tip: Questions to Ask Before Using a Mobile Health App:
- Who developed the app? Is that information easy to find?
- Who wrote and/or reviews the information?
- Is your privacy protected? Does the app clearly state a privacy policy?
- Does the website offer quick and easy solutions to your health problems? Are miracle cures promised?
Does the FDA Regulate Mobile Apps?
Many mobile apps for depression provide information or general patient educational tools. Because these are not considered medical devices, the FDA does not regulate them.
Some mobile apps carry minimal risks to consumers or patients, but others can carry significant risks if they do not operate correctly. The FDA is focusing its oversight on mobile medical apps that:
- Are intended to be used as an accessory to a regulated medical device—for example, an app that allows a health care professional to make a specific diagnosis by viewing a medical image from a picture archiving and communication system on a smartphone or a mobile tablet.
- Transform a mobile platform into a regulated medical device—for example, an app that turns a smartphone into an electrocardiograph (ECG) machine to detect abnormal heart rhythms or determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack.
Does NIMH Have an App for Depression?
NIMH does not currently offer any mobile apps, but NIMH’s website,
www.nimh.nih.gov, is mobile-friendly. This means you can access the NIMH website anywhere, anytime, and on any device—from desktop computers to tablets and mobile phones.
If you see an app that claims to be created or reviewed by NIMH, please call the NIMH Information Resource Center to verify that it was developed or reviewed by us.
