Digitale Hoffnungsträger?

Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, vol. 52, pp. 291–313

Abstract

With the Digital Healthcare Act, Germany has taken a decisive step toward promoting high-quality, evidence-based digital health applications (DiHAs). Presently, there is a significant gap in the provision of mental health services throughout Germany, particularly regarding children and adolescents and especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. DiHAs as low-threshold, location- and time-independent additional mental health services - may offer a way to address this situation. Particularly in the emerging generation of digital natives, there is a high demand for digital mental health services. However, despite the rapidly growing supply of DiHAs for adults, there is a lack of approved DiHAs for children and adolescents with mental disorders. Rather, the demand for care is left to the unregulated market of diverse internet- and mobile-based interventions; early studies have questioned the evidence base, safety, and quality. This discrepancy arises from various specific challenges and risks that reduce incentives to develop DiHAs for this particularly vulnerable target group, including (1) limited evidence, (2) high complexity in study execution, (3) high complexity in the development of applications, (4) poorly researched specific risks, and (5) high regulatory requirements. This article discusses these challenges and risks and outlines the perspectives for a high-quality, safe, and evidence-based digital mental healthcare for children and adolescents.

Authors 6

1. Simon H. Kohl Aachen Klinische Neuropsychologie des Kindes- und Jugendalters Klinik für Psychiatrie

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie e. V., Tübingen, Deutschland

   JARA Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Deutschland

   Klinische Neuropsychologie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Deutschland

2. Alina T. Henn Aachen Klinische Neuropsychologie des Kindes- und Jugendalters Klinik für Psychiatrie

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Klinische Neuropsychologie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Deutschland

3. Johannes C. Fendel

   University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Deutschland

4. Alfred Luttermann
   Affiliation as printed

   Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie e. V., Tübingen, Deutschland

5. Betteke Maria van Noort

   MSB Medical School Berlin

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin, Deutschland

6. Kerstin Konrad Aachen Klinische Neuropsychologie des Kindes- und Jugendalters Klinik für Psychiatrie

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   JARA Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Deutschland

   Klinische Neuropsychologie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Deutschland