Smartphone app based psychological interventions for patients with eating disorders

Smartphone applications targeting mental health issues, including eating disorders, have gained popularity in recent years. However, individuals with eating disorders often face challenges in accessing psychological support, making smartphone apps a potentially valuable avenue for intervention. Despite their popularity, there is a scarcity of studies investigating the safety and efficacy of these apps. This narrative review aims to examine the usage and efficacy of smartphone applications for eating disorders. A comprehensive search was conducted using the PubMed database to identify relevant publications. The marketplace is currently small, with a few popular apps accounting for almost all active users. Clinicians should familiarize themselves with these apps to recommend them to their patients. However, the current marketplace should prioritize the development of evidence-based apps, as there is a lack of research on their efficacy. Clinicians should consider this when integrating apps into their practice. Although some studies have shown promising results with online self-help interventions in reducing behavioral symptoms of eating disorders, it is important to note that many studies have methodological limitations, such as poor user adherence and high dropout rates. Overall, the scarcity of available, evidence-based apps for eating disorders highlights the need for further research in this area to maximize its potential to help patients achieve long term remission.