The digital mental health space is moving fast and we know it can be hard to keep up. Here’s a snap shot of some of the latest research we’ve come across.
Effectiveness of digital mental health
Exploring the effectiveness of digital interventions and support tools across multiple mental health conditions, audiences and settings.
Virtual reality interventions for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review
Cao, Y., Ma, L., Liu, N., Wang, J., Walton, C., & Wang, Y. (2026). Virtual reality interventions for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review. npj Digital Medicine, 9(1), 303.
Systematic review and meta analysis of chatbots in the management of depressive and anxiety symptoms
Sohn, J. S., Ha, B. G., Park, S., Kim, J. J., Lee, E., Oh, H., … & Kim, E. (2026). Systematic review and meta analysis of chatbots in the management of depressive and anxiety symptoms. NPJ Digital Medicine.
Holt, C., Ericksen, J., Gemmill, A. W., Rodrigues, A. L., & Milgrom, J. (2026). Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Fathers With Postnatal Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial of DadBooster. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28(1), e94541.
Implementation of digital mental health
Studies advancing our understanding of how digital mental health interventions can be implemented in real-world settings, and key factors influencing engagement.
Torous, J., Ledley, K. T., Gorban, C., Strudwick, G., Schwarz, J., Choudhary, S., … & Kochhar, S. (2025). Accelerating Digital Mental Health: The Society of Digital Psychiatry’s Three-Pronged Road Map for Education, Digital Navigators, and AI. JMIR mental health, 12(1), e84501.
Wanniarachchi, V. U., Greenhalgh, C., & Warren, J. (2025). Adolescents’ and youths’ perceived barriers and facilitators to engaging with digital mental health interventions for depression and anxiety: A scoping review. Internet Interventions, 42, 100884.
Zhai, S., Goodman, A., Smith, A. C., Diminic, S., & Zhou, X. (2026). The effectiveness, facilitators, and barriers of digital mental health services for First Nations people in Australia: systematic scoping review. Interactive journal of medical research, 15(1), e80386.
Identifying what works in mental health apps through meta-regression analyses of 169 trials.
Kraiss, J., Fiß, F., Chakhssi, F., Aktas, F. B., Koelen, J. A., & Simões, J. P. (2026). Identifying what works in mental health apps through meta-regression analyses of 169 trials. npj Digital Medicine, 9(1), 336.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in digital mental health
Exploring the evolving role of AI in mental health care, especially with digital mental health resources.
Maidment, K., Christensen, H., Lattimore, J., Newby, J. M., & Whitton, A. E. (2026). Developing policy and regulation for the safer use of artificial intelligence technologies for mental health in Australia. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 60(7), 618-624.
A Paradigm Shift in Progress: Generative AI’s Evolving Role in Mental Health Care
Torous, J., & Cipriani, A. (2025). A paradigm shift in progress: generative AI’s evolving role in mental health care. JMIR Mental Health, 12, e82369.
Digital mental health landscape
Key developments shaping the global and Australian digital mental health landscape.
Fisher, A., Jervis, N., Bisby, M., Gandy, M., Heriseanu, A. I., Hathway, T., … & Dear, B. (2026). Engagement of people with lived experience in the design and development of digital mental health interventions: A scoping review of engagement characteristics and impacts. Internet Interventions, 100914.
Bhatia RK, Bhardwaj P, Chaudhry A, et al. A review of systematic reviews for evidence on use of mobile applications for mental disorders, including substance use disorders, in low and middle-income countries. DIGITAL HEALTH. 2025;11. doi:10.1177/20552076251387056
Trends in digital mental health interventions: A 20-year bibliometric analysis
Zhang, B., Lau, L. Y., & Chen, Y. (2025). Trends in digital mental health interventions: A 20-year bibliometric analysis. Digital Health, 11, 20552076251403203.
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