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Most people with depression are seen in primary care rather than mental health settings; delivering effective treatment to these patients can be challenging. In this study, researchers tested “Moodivate” — a digital mental health application that's inexpensive and available on iOS and Android devices.* Moodivate incorporates principles of “behavioral activation,” a psychotherapeutic technique that encourages patients to engage in rewarding activities and to avoid behaviors that exacerbate depression (e.g., excessive sleep, screen time, social isolation).
About 650 patients with PHQ-9 scores >9 (indicating moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms) were identified in primary care practices and randomized to use the Moodivate app or receive usual…