Mindstrong Health – This digital therapeutic helps manage serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It does this through passive data collection from a patient’s phone to analyze their digital behaviors and patterns over time. This passive behavioral data is then used by AI algorithms to predict relapses or deteriorations in symptoms. If any issues are detected, notifications are sent to the patient and their doctors so they can intervene early before a full-blown episode occurs.
Big Health – The company is best known for their digital therapeutic app called Sleepio. Sleepio is one of the most well-established and studied apps for improving sleep. It uses cognitive behavioral therapy techniques through a 6-week program delivered via the app. Each night, users report on their sleep and any issues through a daily diary. The app then provides tailored techniques, tools and psychoeducation videos to help users develop better sleep habits and address issues like insomnia. Multiple clinical trials have found Sleepio significantly improves sleep outcomes.
Pear Therapeutics – This company has developed several FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutic apps to treat disease areas like addiction, schizophrenia, and chronic pain. One of their apps is called reSET, which is intended to treat substance use related to cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana use disorders. It provides 90 days of CBT, mindfulness and motivational interviewing content. Another Pear app called reSET-O is for opioid use disorder and has also undergone rigorous clinical testing demonstrating effectiveness.
QuitGenius – A digital therapeutic aimed at treating tobacco and nicotine addiction. It provides an 8-week evidence-based program combining elements of CBT, contingency management and smartphone tracking/ monitoring. Users work through lessons and activities in the app while getting live coaching support from trained tobacco treatment specialists. Clinical studies show QuitGenius more than doubles smoking quit rates compared to going “cold turkey” or using willpower alone.
Insight Therapeutics – Their digital therapeutic called Terapia is one of the few FDA-cleared apps for treating major depressive disorder. It provides twice-weekly 30 minute therapy sessions via video chat with a licensed therapist. Integrated into the app is ongoing symptom tracking, homework assignments, psychoeducation content and messaging with one’s assigned therapist in between sessions. Clinical trials found Terapia as effective as traditional in-person therapy for improving depression symptoms.
Ginger – A digital behavioral health platform offering both digital therapeutic apps and on-demand therapy services via text, phone or video. Their main app focuses on anxiety, depression, burnout and well-being. It provides techniques like cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, mindfulness and journaling. Users have access to licensed therapists and coaches 24/7 via the app for guidance. Studies show Ginger significantly reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Welldoc – Their BlueStar app is a digital therapeutic for managing diabetes. It incorporates education, tracking of blood sugar levels, medication reminders, as well as lifestyle and behavioral coaching. BlueStar has extensive clinical evidence demonstrating improved hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and diabetes control when used as an adjunct to standard medical care. It aims to help patients better self-manage their condition on a daily basis.
Pearl – A digital therapeutic designed for pregnant women and new mothers to address perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like postpartum depression. Similar to other options, it provides evidence-based therapeutic techniques through a mobile-based CBT program. This includes activities, exercises and tracking tools delivered in-app, along with 24/7 support from a team that includes nurses, social workers and psychologists. Research shows Pearl significantly reduces symptoms of perinatal mood disorders.
This covers some of the major available digital therapeutics currently on the market targeting conditions like mental health issues, substance use disorders, medical conditions and more. As can be seen, they leverage techniques like CBT, mindfulness, behavioral activation, tracking tools and remote therapeutic support through mobile and connected devices to deliver clinically validated mental and behavioral healthcare interventions at scale. The evidence continues accumulating that digital therapeutics can be effective alternatives or adjuncts to traditional therapy models.