Designing an Effective and Usable Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) App

Abstract

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) mobile apps have risen in popularity; however, most are either hard-to-use or not clinically valid. To address this issue, researchers have published CBT app reviews, case studies, and guidelines to inform the development of an effective and usable CBT app. In this paper, I review CBT app literature and use the literature, along with mobile design best practices and interaction design principles, as the basis for an effective and usable CBT app design. To verify the design’s usability, I conducted usability tests with a prototype of the app. Based on the results of the usability tests, I can conclude that my CBT app design is more usable than the average user interface. Additionally, study participants found the app’s CBT exercise valuable, and completing the exercise was associated with an improvement in mood. However, common pain points experienced by participants during the usability tests warrant design changes, and as app development continues, I will continue to collaborate with clinicians, test with end-users, and iterate on the app’s design. Overall, the positive results of this study are exciting because of the potential benefits that an effective and usable CBT app could bring to people’s lives.