Australian-led research has shown that smartphone apps can significantly reduce people’s depressive symptoms and can be useful for managing the condition, but there is no evidence yet to suggest that using apps alone can outperform standard psychological therapies or reduce the need for medication.

Researchers from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at Western Sydney University, along with, Harvard Medical School, the University of Manchester and the Black Dog Institute conducted a meta-analysis of 18 randomised controlled trials, which examined a total of 22 different smartphone-delivered mental health interventions.