# Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health: Is Attrition the Achilles Heel?

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.05179 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.05179/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 6 Jul 2022.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Chain of Empathy: Enhancing Empathetic Response of Large Language Models Based on Psychotherapy Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.04915/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Digit therapeutics are novel software devices that clinicians may utilize in delivering quality mental health care and ensuring positive outcomes. However, uptake of digital therapeutics and clinically tested software-based programs remains low. This article presents possible reasons for attrition and low engagement in clinical studies investigating digital therapeutics, analyses of studies in which engagement was high, and design constructs that may encourage user engagement. The aim is to shed light on the importance of real-world attrition data of digital therapeutics, and important characteristics of medical devices that have positively influenced user engagement. The findings presented in this article will be useful to relevant stakeholders and medical device experts tasked with addressing the gap between software medical design and user engagement present in digital therapeutic clinical trials.