Support in the palm of your hand. Affordances of mobile apps to help with panic attacks and anxiety disorders

Agnieszka Nalepa, Katarzyna Kopecka-Piech

Abstract


Given the rising number of people suffering from anxiety disorders and the increasing interest in mental health technologies, the purpose of the study was to examine mobile apps that support users with anxiety disorders, particularly panic attacks. The aim of the research was to determine the functional affordances of selected mobile apps by analyzing their three dimensions: technological capabilities, context of use and possibilities of user action. An analysis was used to answer three questions: 1) What functionalities do these apps offer users? 2) What is the premise of the applications and the context of their operation? 3) Which elements of the apps have the potential to have a positive and which have a negative impact on users? For this purpose, the operation and design of a selection of four apps were analyzed using the walkthrough method: Rootd – Relief from Anxiety & Panic; Dare: Anxiety and Panic Attacks; Clear Fear; and Panic Shield. Basic feature offerings included built-in breathing exercises, journaling, statistical analysis, and in some cases notifications. The apps examined used proven methods of psychotherapy, i.e. cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques and mood tracking. Apps provided immediate help in a moment, but not long-term support. In addition, the analyzed applications raise data protection concerns.


Keywords


mobile apps; panic attacks; anxiety; anxiety disorders; the walkthrough method

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/j.2024.37.4.123-145
Date of publication: 2025-04-30 15:35:28
Date of submission: 2024-07-15 21:30:16


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