Exploration of Digital Health Technologies

Special Issue Topic

Digital Health Innovations in the Battle Against Psychological Problems: Progress, Hurdles, and Prospects

Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025
Guest Editors

Pasquale Caponnetto E-Mail

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Palazzo Ingrassia, Via Biblioteca, 4 - 95124 Catania, Italy

Research Keywords: Clinical psychology, psychotherapy, digital health, mental health, addiction, eHealth and mHealth, cyber health psychology

Mirko Casu E-Mail

PhD student in Computer Science Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6 - 95125 Catania, Italy

Research Keywords: Clinical psychology, AI, digital health, mental health, addiction, eHealth and mHealth, cyber health psychology
About the Special Issue

Psychological problems continue to be a pressing global health concern, with their impact spanning diverse demographics and societies. In this special issue, we aim to shed light on the latest advancements and critical discussions regarding digital health in the fight against psychological problems. We invite contributions that delve into various facets of this vital endeavor, encompassing:
- Cutting-edge interventions: research articles showcasing pioneering digital health interventions, including mobile applications, wearable technologies, telehealth platforms, and virtual reality solutions, all designed to address psychological problems head-on
- Data-driven insights and predictive models: investigations into the application of advanced data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to gain deeper insights into psychological conditions, enable early identification, and provide tailored treatment recommendations
- User-centric design and experience: studies that explore user-centric design principles, usability considerations, and their profound influence on user engagement and therapeutic efficacy in digital health tools for addressing psychological issues
- Ethical and privacy dimensions: discussions on the ethical and privacy complexities associated with the collection, storage, and responsible use of mental health data within the digital landscape
- Integration within healthcare frameworks: exploration of strategies for the seamless integration of digital mental health solutions within existing healthcare systems, with a focus on interoperability and healthcare provider acceptance
- Cultural and societal relevance: perspectives on how digital health innovations can be tailored to address the unique cultural and societal factors impacting psychological well-being across different communities
- Real-world outcomes and effectiveness: rigorous assessments of the tangible impact and clinical effectiveness of digital health interventions in diverse settings and populations, demonstrating their potential to combat psychological problems
We urge researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share their insights and findings in this special issue, to drive a deeper understanding of the potential, challenges, and opportunities that digital health presents in the ongoing fight against psychological problems and the promotion of mental well-being.

Keywords: Digital health, psychological problems, mental health, eHealth and mHealth, clinical psychology, cyber health psychology, cyber psychology
Call for Papers

Published Articles

Open Access

Original Article

Mediators and moderators of self-esteem’s risk to gaming disorder
Aim: This study aimed to understand the mediating and moderating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with gaming disorder (GD). Methods: Participants (N = 1,712) were recruited from onl [...] Read more.

Aim:

This study aimed to understand the mediating and moderating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with gaming disorder (GD).

Methods:

Participants (N = 1,712) were recruited from online gaming forums. A battery of measures including GD, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, escapism, and playing time were completed.

Results:

Escapism, depression, and playing time have a significant mediating effect on self-esteem’s relationship with GD. Escapism and depression explained most of the mediated effect, with playing time showing a much smaller effect. Anxiety was not a significant mediator. Unexpectedly, high self-esteem does not appear to buffer against the effects escapism and playing time have on GD. This contradicts clinical literature that promotes high self-esteem as a resilience factor.

Conclusions:

Mediating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with GD were identified in this study. Moderators other than self-esteem might be more prudent to investigate in GD research.

Michael Kavanagh

Published: April 29, 2025 Explor Digit Health Technol. 2025;3:101146
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/edht.2025.101146

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Aim:

This study aimed to understand the mediating and moderating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with gaming disorder (GD).

Methods:

Participants (N = 1,712) were recruited from online gaming forums. A battery of measures including GD, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, escapism, and playing time were completed.

Results:

Escapism, depression, and playing time have a significant mediating effect on self-esteem’s relationship with GD. Escapism and depression explained most of the mediated effect, with playing time showing a much smaller effect. Anxiety was not a significant mediator. Unexpectedly, high self-esteem does not appear to buffer against the effects escapism and playing time have on GD. This contradicts clinical literature that promotes high self-esteem as a resilience factor.

Conclusions:

Mediating effects of self-esteem’s relationship with GD were identified in this study. Moderators other than self-esteem might be more prudent to investigate in GD research.

Open Access

Mini Review

AI-based treatment of psychological conditions: the potential use, benefits and drawbacks
Mental healthcare in a range of countries faces challenges, including rapidly increasing demand at a time of restricted access to services, insufficient mental healthcare professionals and limited f [...] Read more.

Mental healthcare in a range of countries faces challenges, including rapidly increasing demand at a time of restricted access to services, insufficient mental healthcare professionals and limited funding. This can result in long delays and late diagnosis. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help to address these shortcomings is therefore being explored in a range of countries, including the UK. The recent increase in reported studies provides an opportunity to review the potential, benefits and drawbacks of this technology. Studies have included AI-based chatbots for patients with depression and anxiety symptoms; AI-facilitated approaches, including virtual reality applications in anxiety disorders; avatar therapy for patients with psychosis; AI humanoid robot-enhanced therapy, for both children and the isolated elderly in care settings; AI animal-like robots to help patients with dementia; and digital game interventions for young people with mental health conditions. Overall, the studies showed positive effects and none reported any adverse side effects. However, the quality of the data was low, mainly due to a lack of studies, a high risk of bias and the heterogeneity of the studies. Importantly also, longer-term effects were often not evident. This suggests that translating small-scale, short-term trials into effective large-scale, longer-term real-world applications may be a particular challenge. While the use of AI in mental healthcare appears to have potential, its use also raises important ethical and privacy concerns, potential risk of bias, and the risk of unintended consequences such as over-diagnosis or unnecessary treatment of normal emotional experiences. More robust, longer-term research with larger patient populations, and clear regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines to ensure that patients’ rights, privacy and well-being are protected, are therefore needed.

Michael Baber, Barbara Baker

Published: April 03, 2025 Explor Digit Health Technol. 2025;3:101143
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/edht.2025.101143

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Mental healthcare in a range of countries faces challenges, including rapidly increasing demand at a time of restricted access to services, insufficient mental healthcare professionals and limited funding. This can result in long delays and late diagnosis. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help to address these shortcomings is therefore being explored in a range of countries, including the UK. The recent increase in reported studies provides an opportunity to review the potential, benefits and drawbacks of this technology. Studies have included AI-based chatbots for patients with depression and anxiety symptoms; AI-facilitated approaches, including virtual reality applications in anxiety disorders; avatar therapy for patients with psychosis; AI humanoid robot-enhanced therapy, for both children and the isolated elderly in care settings; AI animal-like robots to help patients with dementia; and digital game interventions for young people with mental health conditions. Overall, the studies showed positive effects and none reported any adverse side effects. However, the quality of the data was low, mainly due to a lack of studies, a high risk of bias and the heterogeneity of the studies. Importantly also, longer-term effects were often not evident. This suggests that translating small-scale, short-term trials into effective large-scale, longer-term real-world applications may be a particular challenge. While the use of AI in mental healthcare appears to have potential, its use also raises important ethical and privacy concerns, potential risk of bias, and the risk of unintended consequences such as over-diagnosis or unnecessary treatment of normal emotional experiences. More robust, longer-term research with larger patient populations, and clear regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines to ensure that patients’ rights, privacy and well-being are protected, are therefore needed.

Guest Editors

About the Special Issue

Call for Papers

Published Articles

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