Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression: a Delphi study

Noemí Robles; Aïna Fuster-Casanovas; Sònia Moretó; Andrea Duarte-Díaz; Estel Gelabert; María Padilla-Ruiz; Corpus Gómez; Antoni Pérez-Navarro; Josep Vidal-Alaball; Susana Subirà; Meritxell Davins; Francesc Saigí-Rubió; Carme Carrion

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302

Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression: a Delphi study

Noemí Robles, Aïna Fuster-Casanovas, Sònia Moretó, Andrea Duarte-Díaz, Estel Gelabert, María Padilla-Ruiz, Corpus Gómez, Antoni Pérez-Navarro, Josep Vidal-Alaball, Susana Subirà, Meritxell Davins, Francesc Saigí-Rubió, Carme Carrion

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite a lack of evidence relating to effectiveness and safety, the use of apps in the field of mental health is increasing due to their ease of use and accessibility. The aim of the EvalDepApps project is to develop and validate an assessment tool for evaluating depression management apps based on scientific evidence, expert judgement and end-user needs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most relevant criteria for evaluating apps intended to manage depression through consensus-based assessment. METHODS: A total of 43 individuals were invited to participate in an online modified Delphi study of 51 criteria identified from the literature. In Round 1, participants rated criteria according to relevance and three levels of consensus were defined: high level when ≥80% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6; medium when 60%-79% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6 and low when apps.

Original language	English
Article number	e101302
Pages (from-to)	e101302
Number of pages	9
Journal	BMJ open
Volume	15
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302
Publication status	Published - 3 Nov 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Delphi Technique
Depression & mood disorders
eHealth

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

https://ddd.uab.cat/record/322241

Cite this

Robles, N., Fuster-Casanovas, A., Moretó, S., Duarte-Díaz, A., Gelabert, E., Padilla-Ruiz, M., Gómez, C., Pérez-Navarro, A., Vidal-Alaball, J., Subirà, S., Davins, M., Saigí-Rubió, F., & Carrion, C. (2025). Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression: a Delphi study. BMJ open, 15(11), e101302. Article e101302. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302

@article{d541eb1567dc41369b85fa817c3e259b,

title = "Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression: a Delphi study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Despite a lack of evidence relating to effectiveness and safety, the use of apps in the field of mental health is increasing due to their ease of use and accessibility. The aim of the EvalDepApps project is to develop and validate an assessment tool for evaluating depression management apps based on scientific evidence, expert judgement and end-user needs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most relevant criteria for evaluating apps intended to manage depression through consensus-based assessment. METHODS: A total of 43 individuals were invited to participate in an online modified Delphi study of 51 criteria identified from the literature. In Round 1, participants rated criteria according to relevance and three levels of consensus were defined: high level when ≥80\% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6; medium when 60\%-79\% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6 and low when apps.",

keywords = "Delphi Technique, Depression \& mood disorders, eHealth",

author = "Noem{\'i} Robles and A{\"i}na Fuster-Casanovas and S{\`o}nia Moret{\'o} and Andrea Duarte-D{\'i}az and Estel Gelabert and Mar{\'i}a Padilla-Ruiz and Corpus G{\'o}mez and Antoni P{\'e}rez-Navarro and Josep Vidal-Alaball and Susana Subir{\`a} and Meritxell Davins and Francesc Saig{\'i}-Rubi{\'o} and Carme Carrion",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "e101302",

journal = "BMJ open",

issn = "2044-6055",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

number = "11",

}

Robles, N, Fuster-Casanovas, A, Moretó, S, Duarte-Díaz, A, Gelabert, E, Padilla-Ruiz, M, Gómez, C, Pérez-Navarro, A, Vidal-Alaball, J, Subirà, S, Davins, M, Saigí-Rubió, F & Carrion, C 2025, 'Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression: a Delphi study', BMJ open, vol. 15, no. 11, e101302, pp. e101302. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302

TY - JOUR

T1 - Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression

T2 - a Delphi study

AU - Robles, Noemí

AU - Fuster-Casanovas, Aïna

AU - Moretó, Sònia

AU - Duarte-Díaz, Andrea

AU - Gelabert, Estel

AU - Padilla-Ruiz, María

AU - Gómez, Corpus

AU - Pérez-Navarro, Antoni

AU - Vidal-Alaball, Josep

AU - Subirà, Susana

AU - Davins, Meritxell

AU - Saigí-Rubió, Francesc

AU - Carrion, Carme

PY - 2025/11/3

Y1 - 2025/11/3

N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite a lack of evidence relating to effectiveness and safety, the use of apps in the field of mental health is increasing due to their ease of use and accessibility. The aim of the EvalDepApps project is to develop and validate an assessment tool for evaluating depression management apps based on scientific evidence, expert judgement and end-user needs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most relevant criteria for evaluating apps intended to manage depression through consensus-based assessment. METHODS: A total of 43 individuals were invited to participate in an online modified Delphi study of 51 criteria identified from the literature. In Round 1, participants rated criteria according to relevance and three levels of consensus were defined: high level when ≥80% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6; medium when 60%-79% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6 and low when apps.

AB - BACKGROUND: Despite a lack of evidence relating to effectiveness and safety, the use of apps in the field of mental health is increasing due to their ease of use and accessibility. The aim of the EvalDepApps project is to develop and validate an assessment tool for evaluating depression management apps based on scientific evidence, expert judgement and end-user needs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most relevant criteria for evaluating apps intended to manage depression through consensus-based assessment. METHODS: A total of 43 individuals were invited to participate in an online modified Delphi study of 51 criteria identified from the literature. In Round 1, participants rated criteria according to relevance and three levels of consensus were defined: high level when ≥80% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6; medium when 60%-79% of respondents scored the criterion at 5 or 6 and low when apps.

KW - Delphi Technique

KW - Depression & mood disorders

KW - eHealth

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101302

M3 - Article

C2 - 41224286

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 15

SP - e101302

JO - BMJ open

JF - BMJ open

IS - 11

M1 - e101302

ER -

Validation and selection of criteria for evaluating apps for managing depression: a Delphi study

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this