Digital wellness program eases anxiety and depression in adults with chronic health conditions
A digital program combining guided movement, breathing and meditation exercises, and coping-skills training reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with chronic medical conditions, according to a new study published Aug. 20 in the journal PLOS Medicine by Puneeta Tandon of the University of Alberta, Canada, and colleagues.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine on August 20 reveals that a digital wellness program significantly improves anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with chronic health conditions. The three-arm randomized controlled trial, conducted across 13 countries, involved 825 participants with conditions such as primary biliary cholangitis, chronic digestive diseases, cirrhosis, and heart failure.
The program included guided movement, breathing, meditation, coping-skills training, and disease education. Participants assigned to the digital program with weekly telephone check-ins from nonclinicians showed a 2.9-point greater improvement in anxiety and depression scores compared to the control group at 12 weeks. The program also led to improved quality of life and reduced fatigue.
Notably, the self-directed program alone also demonstrated significant symptom improvement. The study's findings suggest that digital mental health interventions can address the shared symptoms of various chronic diseases, providing a scalable and accessible option for symptom management.
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