By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Teens Seek Sex Ed Online.
    July 13, 2011
    Living in Denial
    August 21, 2011
    Addressing Chronic Diseases Would Reduce Debt, Generate Savings
    September 21, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Would You Use Your Smartphone as a Therapy Tool?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > Would You Use Your Smartphone as a Therapy Tool?
eHealthMedical InnovationsMobile HealthWellness

Would You Use Your Smartphone as a Therapy Tool?

talishenfield
talishenfield
Share
6 Min Read
healthcare mobile app
SHARE

When feeling depressed or anxious, some people do not want to go to a therapist, either because of the cost, the stigma, or both. MoodKit is a smartphone app that can help with depression and other psychological issues through the use of a modified, self-administered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

When feeling depressed or anxious, some people do not want to go to a therapist, either because of the cost, the stigma, or both. MoodKit is a smartphone app that can help with depression and other psychological issues through the use of a modified, self-administered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Depression can often lead to more depression, as people look at their situation in distorted ways and withdraw from activities that would healthcare mobile appotherwise make them feel better. CBT disrupts that process by helping people keep track of their moods and activities and then prompts them to do the things that make them feel accomplished and connected.  MoodKit allows users to track the connections between their activities, moods, and thoughts. For example, they may indicate that today they ate alone at a fast-food restaurant and during the meal, thought about their friend, who did not respond to a text message, and felt that the friend does not care about them. They may also record that they were in a poor mood. MoodKit helps users associate these three things in order for them get a better idea of what thoughts and activities make them feel depressed or anxious, and which ones make them feel good. Another benefit to MoodKit is that, as many people carry their smartphones with them all of the time, it is constantly available, and much more portable and discrete than a self-help book.

This app can also be used in tandem with more traditional CBT with a therapist. While many therapists may harbor mixed feelings about implementing mobile technology as part of their clinical practice, it is likely that programs such as MoodKit can improve the efficacy of their treatments. CBT emphasizes skill-building and active participation on the client’s part through use of homework assignments. When MoodKit is integrated into more traditional CBT, it can act as the homework assignments, with activities such as daily mood ratings, a calendar to keep track of activities, a journal, and activity suggestions including suggestions to increase productivity, physical activity, healthy habits, social activities, with the possibility to mark favorites for easy access.  The journaling option has multiple pre-formatted templates to develop various skills. There is an option to export all mood charts, journals and activities to the therapist, or to print them wirelessly. When used in conjunction with traditional therapy, MoodKit is likely to reduce the number of required CBT sessions, because it provides the therapist with statistical data about the patient. This data allows therapists to identify the triggers which cause anxiety and depression.

One of the more helpful features in the MoodKit app is the behavioral activation tool. Based on the analysis of the user’s data, it suggests activities that will help them feel better. Over 150 activities are available in the app, along with examples and tips for implementation. After the user engages in a few of these activities, the app has an intelligent algorithm that suggests future activities based on the ratings that the user has given for the activities he has tried. Another tool allows the user to describe their situation (e.g.“I didn’t get that promotion at work that I expected”), their initial thought about the situation (e.g.“I’m never going to move up in my job”), identify the distortions in their though process(in this case “catastrophizing” and “fortune telling”), and come up with a modified thought (e.g.“It might take longer than I hoped, but that doesn’t mean I’ll never get that promotion”). On the same screen, users can list their feelings and rate the change between their initial and modified thoughts. This is a part of the cognitive restructuring tool in the app, which helps users manage their negative feelings related to a situation by generating adaptive alternatives to these thoughts and feelings. These situations, initial and modified thoughts,  feelings, and distortions are all recorded through step-by-step prompts.

More Read

How AI In Healthcare Can Improve Patient Outcomes
Types of Telemedicine
The Benefits of Memory Foam Mattresses
Can YOU Innovate Healthcare? Critical Info For Startups
Patient-Centered Approach to Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (podcast)

While there have not yet been many studies determining the efficacy of the MoodKit app, there is no reason why it should not be at least as efficacious as traditional CBT homework assignments, especially when paired with traditional therapy. It is based on the tenets of CBT, which has been found to be an effective therapeutic approach, but it has the benefit of being portable. One of the downsides to traditional therapy is that, in the moment when someone is thinking a distorted or upsetting thought, it is not possible to always have a therapist or even a worksheet with them. There are times when it is not appropriate to journal about one’s mental health, but it is almost always socially acceptable to use your smartphone. As one user of this app noted, “As far as anyone else knows, I’m just another guy texting or checking email, not someone completing a therapy assignment”.       

image: Flickr

TAGGED:CBThealth appmental healthmHealthMoodKit
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025

You Might also Like

epatient_2015_3D
BusinesseHealth

The Not-A-Marketing Book Every Healthcare Marketer Should Read

January 23, 2014
mHealth apps
Mobile HealthTechnology

iPad Applications in the Healthcare Industry: Fad or Future?

August 19, 2013

Who is Healthcare Delivery Really About?

July 29, 2015

Pain Causes, Relief, Control and Management

December 2, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?