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Advancing Digital Mental Health Interventions for Schizophrenia

Introduction

Digital mental health tools are transforming how mental health care is delivered, offering new possibilities for accessible, personalised, and continuous support. While these tools have rapidly expanded—over 300,000 developed in 2022 alone—most are designed for conditions such as anxiety or depression. People living with schizophrenia, a condition marked by persistent symptoms and complex care needs, have been largely overlooked in this digital evolution. This project set out to explore how digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) could be better developed, understood, and used to support the care of individuals with schizophrenia in meaningful, safe, and effective ways.

Aims

The aim of the project was to assess the current and future potential of DMHIs in supporting people with schizophrenia, by investigating both the clinical evidence and the lived experiences of those most affected. The project sought to understand how these tools are being used today, how they might evolve in the coming years, and what their practical, emotional, and relational impacts are for patients, carers, and clinicians. In doing so, it aimed to inform better design, policy, and clinical practice for digital mental health support tailored to this community.

To achieve these aims, the project combined research, engagement, and collaboration. A narrative review was conducted to analyse the existing evidence base for DMHIs relevant to schizophrenia, including those incorporating virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and smartphone-based interventions. This was followed by facilitated workshops involving people with lived experience of schizophrenia, carers, and clinicians, which allowed for in-depth exploration of their perspectives. A series of interviews added further depth, offering insight into both the practical challenges and the emotional realities of using digital tools in mental health care. The project was coordinated by GAMIAN-Europe in collaboration with the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), EUFAMI, and Informed Thinking.

Findings

The findings suggest that while DMHIs are still in early stages for schizophrenia, they hold promising potential to support symptom management, prevent relapses, and improve patient engagement. Participants consistently emphasised that these tools can be helpful, particularly when they are trusted, personalised, and easy to use, but they should never replace face-to-face care. The risks of digital exclusion, privacy concerns, and poorly regulated apps on the open market were flagged as major issues that must be addressed. Importantly, participants stressed the need for co-development: tools that are created with direct input from patients, carers, and clinicians are more likely to be effective, ethical, and well-used.

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