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Taher R, Bhanushali P, Allan S, Alvarez-Jimenez M, Bolton H, Dennison L, Wallace BE, Hadjistavropoulos HD, Hall CL, Hardy A, Henry AL, Lane S, Maguire T, Moreton A, Moukhtarian TR, Vallejos EP, Shergill S, Stahl D, Thew GR, Timulak L, van den Berg D, Viganò N, Stock BW, Young KS, Yiend J. Bridging the gap from medical to psychological safety assessment: consensus study in a digital mental health context. BJPsych Open 2024; 10:e126. [PMID: 38828683 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital Mental Health Interventions (DMHIs) that meet the definition of a medical device are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. The MHRA uses procedures that were originally developed for pharmaceuticals to assess the safety of DMHIs. There is recognition that this may not be ideal, as is evident by an ongoing consultation for reform led by the MHRA and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. AIMS The aim of this study was to generate an experts' consensus on how the medical regulatory method used for assessing safety could best be adapted for DMHIs. METHOD An online Delphi study containing three rounds was conducted with an international panel of 20 experts with experience/knowledge in the field of UK digital mental health. RESULTS Sixty-four items were generated, of which 41 achieved consensus (64%). Consensus emerged around ten recommendations, falling into five main themes: Enhancing the quality of adverse events data in DMHIs; Re-defining serious adverse events for DMHIs; Reassessing short-term symptom deterioration in psychological interventions as a therapeutic risk; Maximising the benefit of the Yellow Card Scheme; and Developing a harmonised approach for assessing the safety of psychological interventions in general. CONCLUSION The implementation of the recommendations provided by this consensus could improve the assessment of safety of DMHIs, making them more effective in detecting and mitigating risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Taher
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Palak Bhanushali
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Stephanie Allan
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Charlotte L Hall
- NIHR MindTech-MedTech Co-operative, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Amy Hardy
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | | | - Sam Lane
- SilverCloud by Amwell, Boston, USA
| | - Tess Maguire
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK
| | | | - Talar R Moukhtarian
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, UK
| | - Elvira Perez Vallejos
- NIHR MindTech-MedTech Co-operative, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Sukhi Shergill
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
- Kent and Medway Medical School, Canterbury, UK
| | - Daniel Stahl
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Graham R Thew
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | | | - David van den Berg
- Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University and Amsterdam Public Health Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Ben Wensley Stock
- University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Katherine S Young
- SilverCloud by Amwell, Boston, USA
- Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Jenny Yiend
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Torous J, Smith KA, Hardy A, Vinnikova A, Blease C, Milligan L, Hidalgo-Mazzei D, Lambe S, Marzano L, Uhlhaas PJ, Ostinelli EG, Anmella G, Zangani C, Aronica R, Dwyer B, Cipriani A. Digital health interventions for schizophrenia: Setting standards for mental health. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:392-395. [PMID: 38640849 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- John Torous
- Division of Digital Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02446, USA.
| | - Katharine A Smith
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Amy Hardy
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Charlotte Blease
- Participatory eHealth and Health Data Research Group, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Digital Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | - Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Digital Innovation Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Sinead Lambe
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Lisa Marzano
- School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, UK
| | - Peter J Uhlhaas
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edoardo G Ostinelli
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Gerard Anmella
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Digital Innovation Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Caroline Zangani
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Rosario Aronica
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda- Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Bridget Dwyer
- Division of Digital Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02446, USA
| | - Andrea Cipriani
- Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
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Eisner E, Richardson C, Thomas N, Rus-Calafell M, Syrett S, Firth J, Gumley A, Hardy A, Allan S, Kabir T, Ward T, Priyam A, Bucci S. Measurement of Adverse Events in Studies of Digital Health Interventions for Psychosis: Guidance and Recommendations Based on a Literature Search and Framework Analysis of Standard Operating Procedures. Schizophr Bull 2024:sbae048. [PMID: 38683836 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the rapid expansion of research into digital health interventions (DHIs) for severe mental illness (SMI; eg, schizophrenia and other psychosis diagnoses), there is an emergent need for clear safety measures. Currently, measurement and reporting of adverse events (AEs) are inconsistent across studies. Therefore, an international network, iCharts, was assembled to systematically identify and refine a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for AE reporting in DHI studies for SMI. DESIGN The iCharts network comprised experts on DHIs for SMI from seven countries (United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Pakistan, Australia, United States, and China) and various professional backgrounds. Following a literature search, SOPs of AEs were obtained from authors of relevant studies, and from grey literature. RESULTS A thorough framework analysis of SOPs (n = 32) identified commonalities for best practice for certain domains, along with significant gaps in others; particularly around the classification of AEs during trials, and the provision of training/supervision for research staff in measuring and reporting AEs. Several areas which could lead to the observed inconsistencies in AE reporting and handling were also identified. CONCLUSIONS The iCharts network developed best-practice guidelines and a practical resource for AE monitoring in DHI studies for psychosis, based on a systematic process which identified common features and evidence gaps. This work contributes to international efforts to standardize AE measurement and reporting in this emerging field, ensuring that safety aspects of DHIs for SMI are well-studied across the translational pathway, with monitoring systems set-up from the outset to support safe implementation in healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Eisner
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Cara Richardson
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Neil Thomas
- Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mar Rus-Calafell
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Centre, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Suzy Syrett
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- NHS Research Scotland Mental Health Network, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joseph Firth
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Gumley
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Amy Hardy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience; King's College London, London, UK
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Stephanie Allan
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas Kabir
- McPin Foundation, London, UK
- Departments of Experimental Psychology & Psychiatry, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas Ward
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience; King's College London, London, UK
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Aansha Priyam
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Sandra Bucci
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Research and Innovation, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Allan S, Ward T, Eisner E, Bell IH, Cella M, Chaudhry IB, Torous J, Kiran T, Kabir T, Priyam A, Richardson C, Reininghaus U, Schick A, Schwannauer M, Syrett S, Zhang X, Bucci S. Adverse Events Reporting in Digital Interventions Evaluations for Psychosis: A Systematic Literature Search and Individual Level Content Analysis of Adverse Event Reports. Schizophr Bull 2024:sbae031. [PMID: 38581410 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health interventions (DHIs) have significant potential to upscale treatment access to people experiencing psychosis but raise questions around patient safety. Adverse event (AE) monitoring is used to identify, record, and manage safety issues in clinical trials, but little is known about the specific content and context contained within extant AE reports. This study aimed to assess current AE reporting in DHIs. STUDY DESIGN A systematic literature search was conducted by the iCharts network (representing academic, clinical, and experts by experience) to identify trials of DHIs in psychosis. Authors were invited to share AE reports recorded in their trials. A content analysis was conducted on the shared reports. STUDY RESULTS We identified 593 AE reports from 18 DHI evaluations, yielding 19 codes. Only 29 AEs (4.9% of total) were preidentified by those who shared AEs as being related to the intervention or trial procedures. While overall results support the safety of DHIs, DHIs were linked to mood problems and psychosis exacerbation in a few cases. Additionally, 27% of studies did not report information on relatedness for all or at least some AEs; 9.6% of AE reports were coded as unclear because it could not be determined what had happened to participants. CONCLUSIONS The results support the safety of DHIs, but AEs must be routinely monitored and evaluated according to best practice. Individual-level analyses of AEs have merit to understand safety in this emerging field. Recommendations for best practice reporting in future studies are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Allan
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas Ward
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Emily Eisner
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Imogen H Bell
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Matteo Cella
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Imran B Chaudhry
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Ziauddin University and Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of Living & Learning, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - John Torous
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tayyeba Kiran
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Thomas Kabir
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aansha Priyam
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Cara Richardson
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ulrich Reininghaus
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Department of Psychology Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anita Schick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias Schwannauer
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suzy Syrett
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Xiaolong Zhang
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sandra Bucci
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Gholamrezaei A, Magee MR, McNeilage AG, Dwyer L, Sim A, Ferreira ML, Darnall BD, Brake T, Aggarwal A, Craigie M, Hollington I, Glare P, Ashton-James CE. A digital health intervention to support patients with chronic pain during prescription opioid tapering: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Pain Rep 2024; 9:e1128. [PMID: 38352024 PMCID: PMC10863948 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Recent changes in opioid prescribing guidelines have led to an increasing number of patients with chronic pain being recommended to taper. However, opioid tapering can be challenging, and many patients require support. Objectives We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a codesigned digital health intervention to support patients with chronic pain during voluntary prescription opioid tapering. Methods In a pilot randomised controlled trial, participants received a psychoeducational video and 28 days of text messages (2 SMS/day) in addition to their usual care (intervention) or usual care alone (control). The feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the intervention were evaluated. The primary outcome was opioid tapering self-efficacy. Secondary outcomes were pain intensity and interference, anxiety and depression symptom severity, pain catastrophising, and pain self-efficacy. Results Of 28 randomised participants, 26 completed the study (13 per group). Text message delivery was high (99.2%), but fidelity of video delivery was low (57.1%). Most participants rated the messages as useful, supportive, encouraging, and engaging; 78.5% would recommend the intervention to others; and 64.2% desired a longer intervention period. Tapering self-efficacy (Cohen d = 0.74) and pain self-efficacy (d = 0.41) were higher, and pain intensity (d = 0.65) and affective interference (d = 0.45) were lower in the intervention group at week 4. Conclusion First evidence supports the feasibility, acceptability, and potentially efficacy of a psychoeducational video and SMS text messaging intervention to support patients with chronic pain during voluntary prescription opioid tapering. Definitive trials with longer intervention duration are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Gholamrezaei
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael R. Magee
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Amy G. McNeilage
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Leah Dwyer
- Consumer Advisory Group, Painaustralia, Deakin, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison Sim
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Manuela L. Ferreira
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, Kolling Institute, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Beth D. Darnall
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Timothy Brake
- Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Arun Aggarwal
- Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Meredith Craigie
- Pain Management Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Irina Hollington
- Pain Management Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Paul Glare
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Claire E. Ashton-James
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Denecke K, May R, Gabarron E, Lopez-Campos GH. Assessing the Potential Risks of Digital Therapeutics (DTX): The DTX Risk Assessment Canvas. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1523. [PMID: 37888134 PMCID: PMC10608744 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13101523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Digital therapeutics (DTX), i.e., health interventions that are provided through digital means, are increasingly available for use; in some countries, physicians can even prescribe selected DTX following a reimbursement by health insurances. This results in an increasing need for methodologies to consider and monitor DTX's negative consequences, their risks to patient safety, and possible adverse events. However, it is completely unknown which aspects should be subject to surveillance given the missing experiences with the tools and their negative impacts. OBJECTIVE Our aim is to develop a tool-the DTX Risk Assessment Canvas-that enables researchers, developers, and practitioners to reflect on the negative consequences of DTX in a participatory process. METHOD Taking the well-established business model canvas as a starting point, we identified relevant aspects to be considered in a risk assessment of a DTX. The aspects or building blocks of the canvas were constructed in a two-way process: first, we defined the aspects relevant for discussing and reflecting on how a DTX might bring negative consequences and risks for its users by considering ISO/TS 82304-2, the scientific literature, and by reviewing existing DTX and their listed adverse effects. The resulting aspects were grouped into thematic blocks and the canvas was created. Second, six experts in health informatics and mental health provided feedback and tested the understandability of the initial canvas by individually applying it to a DTX of their choice. Based on their feedback, the canvas was modified. RESULTS The DTX Risk Assessment Canvas is organized into 15 thematic blocks which are in turn grouped into three thematic groups considering the DTX itself, the users of the DTX, and the effects of the DTX. For each thematic block, questions have been formulated to guide the user of the canvas in reflecting on the single aspects. Conclusions: The DTX Risk Assessment Canvas is a tool to reflect the negative consequences and risks of a DTX by discussing different thematic blocks that together constitute a comprehensive interpretation of a DTX regarding possible risks. Applied during the DTX design and development phase, it can help in implementing countermeasures for mitigation or means for their monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Denecke
- Department Engineering and Computer Science, Institute Patient-Centered Digital Health, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Richard May
- Department of Automation and Computer Science, Harz University of Applied Sciences, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany;
| | - Elia Gabarron
- Norwegian Centre for E-Health Research, University Hospital of North Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway;
- Department of Education, ICT and Learning, Østfold University College, 1757 Halden, Norway
| | - Guillermo H. Lopez-Campos
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK;
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Taher R, Hsu CW, Hampshire C, Fialho C, Heaysman C, Stahl D, Shergill S, Yiend J. The Safety of Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review and Recommendations. JMIR Ment Health 2023; 10:e47433. [PMID: 37812471 PMCID: PMC10594135 DOI: 10.2196/47433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for common mental health conditions are effective. However, digital interventions, such as face-to-face therapies, pose risks to patients. A safe intervention is considered one in which the measured benefits outweigh the identified and mitigated risks. OBJECTIVE This study aims to review the literature to assess how DMHIs assess safety, what risks are reported, and how they are mitigated in both the research and postmarket phases and building on existing recommendations for assessing, reporting, and mitigating safety in the DMHI and standardizing practice. METHODS PsycINFO, Embase, and MEDLINE databases were searched for studies that addressed the safety of DMHIs. The inclusion criteria were any study that addressed the safety of a clinical DMHI, even if not as a main outcome, in an adult population, and in English. As the outcome data were mainly qualitative in nature, a meta-analysis was not possible, and qualitative analysis was used to collate the results. Quantitative results were synthesized in the form of tables and percentages. To illustrate the use of a single common safety metric across studies, we calculated odds ratios and CIs, wherever possible. RESULTS Overall, 23 studies were included in this review. Although many of the included studies assessed safety by actively collecting adverse event (AE) data, over one-third (8/23, 35%) did not assess or collect any safety data. The methods and frequency of safety data collection varied widely, and very few studies have performed formal statistical analyses. The main treatment-related reported AE was symptom deterioration. The main method used to mitigate risk was exclusion of high-risk groups. A secondary web-based search found that 6 DMHIs were available for users or patients to use (postmarket phase), all of which used indications and contraindications to mitigate risk, although there was no evidence of ongoing safety review. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this review show the need for a standardized classification of AEs, a standardized method for assessing AEs to statically analyze AE data, and evidence-based practices for mitigating risk in DMHIs, both in the research and postmarket phases. This review produced 7 specific, measurable, and achievable recommendations with the potential to have an immediate impact on the field, which were implemented across ongoing and future research. Improving the quality of DMHI safety data will allow meaningful assessment of the safety of DMHIs and confidence in whether the benefits of a new DMHI outweigh its risks. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022333181; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=333181.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayan Taher
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Che-Wei Hsu
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chloe Hampshire
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina Fialho
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Heaysman
- London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Stahl
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sukhi Shergill
- Kent and Medway Medical School, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Yiend
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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