ABSTRACT
Evaluating the presence of behavior change techniques (BCTs) in mHealth apps could be used to better understand what "active ingredients" contribute to outcomes. Despite the early onset of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and the increasing use of mobile apps to seek mental healthcare among young people, BCTs underpinning mHealth apps targeting AN have never been systematically examined. This review systematically identified and analyzed BCTs underpinning apps targeted at reducing AN in young people in an attempt to understand their active components. Apps were searched and screened in Apple Store and Google Play. Six apps that met the inclusion criteria and were coded by trained researchers against the BCT Taxonomy V1. Overall, 22 of 93 possible BCTs were identified. The most common were "Information about health consequences," "Social support (unspecified)," and "Information about antecedents". Identified BCTs suggested potential overlaps with traditional clinical treatments for AN, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based therapy. Further investigation is required to evaluate the apps' usability and effectiveness.
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is considered to be one of the most fatal mental disorders and has an early onset in adolescence. More recently, there has been a surge in the development of mobile health (mHealth) apps that young people are beginning to turn toward to for mental healthcare support. However, despite the early onset of AN and the increasing use of mobile apps to seek mental healthcare, the content of such apps has been largely unexplored. The aim of this review was to systematically identify the behavioral change techniques (BCTs) underpinning AN apps for young people. BCTs refer to the "common language" used by researchers to determine the triggers of behavior change. Apps were searched and screened in Apple Store and Google Play. Six apps met the inclusion criteria and were coded by trained researchers against a taxonomy containing a total of 93 distinct BCTs (BCT Taxonomy V1). Overall, 22 of 93 possible BCTs were identified and suggested potential overlaps with traditional clinical treatments for AN, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based therapy. Further investigation is required to evaluate the apps' usability and effectiveness.
