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MoodMission is targeted at people experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression. The app provides different activities, or “missions”, based on how the user is feeling. Users select how they feel at a particular time (anxious, depressed, or neither), how distressing their feelings are, and choose from a range of options which best describes the problem (e.g. ‘I can’t stop thinking about something’ or ‘I can’t quite put my finger on it’). Based on the user’s responses, 5 missions are provided, with objectives and an explanation of why this activity may help. Missions can be behavior-based (e.g. learn how to knit, crochet, or sew), physical-based (e.g. push ups), thought-based (e.g. decatastrophize) or emotion-based (e.g. breath and emotions meditation). Users choose to accept a mission, mark the mission as complete when finished, and then rate how distressed they feel following the mission and how helpful they found it. The mission log shows all completed missions and various achievements (i.e. completed one mission, completed 10 behavioral missions, completed 20 emotional missions). Users are assigned ranks as they progress through the app activities. As data from the app is being used for a research study conducted by Monash University, users are asked to complete 6 surveys of about 5 minutes each before unlocking the app, on topics such as well-being and moods and emotions.
Read the Professional Review for Mood Mission | A Professional ReviewAvailable for: Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Requires Android 4.4 and up
Developer: MoodMission Ptd Ltd
Type of Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Principles, Mindfulness, Gratitude
Targeted Conditions: Mood Disorders, Stress and Anxiety
Target Audience: Not Specified
Designed to be used in conjunction with a professional? No
Languages Available: English
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Get it on: Apple App Store, Google Play
A randomized controlled trial studied the efficacy of three publicly available mental health apps, MoodMission being one of them, when being compared to a control condition where no mental health app was provided. There were 226 participants in this study (81% female, average age 34 years) who were assigned to one of the four groups. Participants took a baseline assessment, did their intervention if they were assigned to an experimental group, and then took another assessment 30 days later. Compared to the condition, all of the mental health app groups experienced an increase in mental wellbeing, with MoodMission and another mental health app (Moodkit), participants experiencing a decrease in depression. (Bakker, Kazantzis, Rickwood, & Rickard. 2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796718301244)
Another study wanted to investigate how engaging with a mobile app that used short Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies (MoodMission) would affect mental health outcomes. 617 participants (71% female, mean age: 26.9) were drawn from users who had downloaded the app between August 2016 and June 2017. Participants completed a baseline assessment and final assessment 30 days later. It was found that engaging with an app that provides CBT strategies leads to increases in mental wellbeing coping efficacy when it comes to depression or anxiety. (Bakker & Rickard. 2019. https://aps.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ap.12383)
A pilot study was done on the development of the app with 44 participants completing the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and providing feedback. (Bakker, Nikolaos Kazantzis, Rickwood, & Rickard. 2018. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326805445_Development_and_Pilot_Evaluation_of_Smartphone-Delivered_Cognitive_Behavior_Therapy_Strategies_for_Mood-_and_Anxiety-Related_Problems_MoodMission)
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