title: Online, social media and mobile technologies for psychosis treatment: a systematic review on novel user-led interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Internet and mobile-based interventions provide a unique opportunity to deliver cost-effective, accessible, time-unlimited support to people with psychosis. The aims of this study were to systematically compile and analyze the evidence on the acceptability, feasibility, safety and benefits of online and mobile-based interventions for psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of peer-reviewed studies examining the usability, acceptability, feasibility, safety or efficacy of user-led, Internet or mobile-based interventions, with at least 80% of participants diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 38 potentially relevant articles, 12 were eligible for inclusion. Interventions included web-based psycho-education; web-based psycho-education plus moderated forums for patients and supporters; integrated web-based therapy, social networking and peer and expert moderation; web-based CBT; personalized advice based on clinical monitoring; and text messaging interventions. Results showed that 74-86% of patients used the web-based interventions efficiently, 75-92% perceived them as positive and useful, and 70-86% completed or were engaged with the interventions over the follow-up. Preliminary evidence indicated that online and mobile-based interventions show promise in improving positive psychotic symptoms, hospital admissions, socialization, social connectedness, depression and medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internet and mobile-based interventions for psychosis seem to be acceptable and feasible and have the potential to improve clinical and social outcomes. The heterogeneity, poor quality and early state of current research precludes any definite conclusions. Future research should investigate the efficacy of online and mobile interventions through controlled, well-powered studies, which investigate intervention and patient factors associated with take-up and intervention effects.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: malvarez@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alcazar-Corcoles
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Centre, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Blanch
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bendall
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGorry
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gleeson
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000295:instrumentation; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D060756:Social Networking
keywords: Mobile; Online; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Social media; Social networking