Key Points
Digital Therapeutics (DTx) are emerging as a promising and cost-effective option in the treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). A clinical condition, MDD not only impairs a person’s quality of life but also carries substantial economic and societal burdens.
While conventional treatments involving antidepressants and psychotherapy provide symptomatic relief, MDD requires long-term medication and emotional support. The associated responsibilities and costs – of medicines, psychotherapy sessions and lifestyle-related remedies – often cause patients to falter in complying with the overall treatment regime.
DTx are seen as an innovative way to address this issue and deliver sustained care to MDD patients. These evidence-based interventions leverage a wide variety of tools to prevent, manage and treat depressive symptoms, including:
- Clinical decision-support systems that guide the physician to choose the right antidepressant for the patient
- Online apps that offer a medium for the patients to connect with their healthcare providers and peer-support groups
- Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy apps that offer 24/7 emotional support
- Games and platforms that stimulate the brain and build psychological resilience against depression
- Wearable devices that offer the convenience of remote and real-time symptom monitoring
The adoption of DTx is not a cakewalk and faces many regulatory, technical and reimbursement concerns. In addition, patient compliance, data privacy issues, and reliability and accuracy concerns cause high attrition in DTx use.
However, the rising prevalence of clinical depression across the globe is expected to fuel DTx studies and innovation to navigate the challenges associated with their use and adoption in MDD. Major pharmaceutical players are competing and collaborating in this dynamic field to gain a competitive edge in research and development and enjoy a greater share of the growing market.