User Reviews of Depression App Features: Sentiment Analysis.

Developers should be careful in selecting the features they offer in their depression apps. Medical assessment features may be riskier as users receive potentially disturbing feedback on their condition and may react with strong negative emotions. In contrast, offering information, contacts, or even games may be safer starting points to engage people with depression at a distance. We highlight the necessity to differentiate how mHealth apps are assessed and vetted based on the features they offer. Methodologically, this study points to novel ways to investigate the impact of mHealth apps and app features on people with mental health issues. mHealth apps exist in a rapidly changing ecosystem that is driven by user satisfaction and adoption decisions. As such, user perceptions are essential and must be monitored to ensure adoption and avoid harm to a fragile population that may not benefit from traditional health care resources.