Further evidence will be generated while the 3 recommended technologies are used in the NHS to address the immediate unmet need, with appropriate safety processes in place. The main outcomes prioritised by the committee for evidence generation are outlined in recommendation 1.2.
The clinical experts stressed the importance of managing clinical risk. The companies advised that they have risk management systems in place, but that risk should be managed according to local care protocols. All the technologies are supported by trained practitioners or therapists in NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression services, who check in with users every week or every 2 weeks by telephone calls or messaging. The committee concluded that using digitally enabled therapies in NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression services could increase access to treatment and support while ensuring the safety of patients through continued monitoring and review.
The committee concluded that there was not enough evidence to recommend Minddistrict, Iona Mind or Wysa for early use in the NHS. They should only be used in formal research that has been approved by an ethics committee.
Research should be within the scope of this assessment and include well-designed and adequately powered studies with appropriate comparators in NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression services. The main outcomes prioritised by the committee for evidence generation are outlined in recommendation 1.2. Studies should address the evidence gaps outlined in this guidance and show the benefit of using these technologies for adults with depression.