Abstract Details

Title The Functionality, Evidence and Privacy Issues around Smartphone Apps for the Top Neuropsychiatric Conditions: A Comprehensive Study

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 4-064

Objective Given the volume of patients using health related smartphone applications (apps),
we examined apps pertaining to the top most disabling neuropsychiatric conditions to better
understand their function, privacy, and features.

Background In 2018, ~half of 3.4 billion smartphone owners will use health-related apps. With
the rapid growth of these self-management tools, great potential exists for collecting/tracking
data and providing mHealth interventions, but there is little oversight into their development,
data sharing, and privacy implications.

Design/Methods Using the World Health Organization’s data of the most disabling neuropsychiatric conditions/ Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years, we generated a list of the top 5 conditions (1. Stroke, 2. Migraine, 3. Depression, 4. Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and 5. Anxiety). We systematically searched the Google Play and Apple Stores for apps for persons with those conditions. We selected the top 15 apps/store meeting pre-specified inclusion criteria: in top 50 search results, offering intervention and/or tracking capabilities, and listing the condition in the app title/description. Exclusion criteria were: $5+ to purchase, solely motor versus cognitive-based intervention, or designed for use by caregivers/healthcare providers. Content abstracted from apps and respective websites included function, behavior change rewards, and information about intervention, privacy policy, and payment.

Results 83 apps were reviewed (Stroke n=8; Migraine n=25; Alzheimer’s/Dementia n=8; Depression
n=7; Anxiety n=14; apps targeting both Depression and Anxiety n=21). 78% had a privacy
policy, of which 49% were unspecific to the app. 69% of apps had an intervention component;
10 (18%) were deemed evidence-based. 70% required payment for access to all features.
19% rewarded user behavior changes.

Conclusions There is disconnect between apps claiming to provide intervention and apps being thoroughly
studied and evidence-based. Despite this, many apps requested payment to acquire full app
function. Lastly, though past research suggests behavior change reward may be beneficial to
app compliance, only 19% of the apps included this.

Authors/Disclosures
Ariana Gopal PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Gabriella Sahyoun	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Mia T. Minen, MD, FAAN (NYULMC Neurology)	The institution of Dr. Minen has received research support from NIH. Dr. Minen has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Minen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a First Contact-Primary Care Advisory Board Member with American Headache Society . Dr. Minen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for PCORI grant on migraine evidence based map for stakeholders with ECRI .

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