Social and non-social cognitive behavioural therapy strategies for depression: findings from the MoodMission smartphone application

Objective Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment of depression that can include strategies with a social component. Mental health apps (MHapps) are widely used amongst individuals with depression to access CBT strategies. Despite the research on CBT, it is not clear whether there is a difference in the correlation of CBT strategies for depression with a social component or not. Using MoodMission, an empirically validated MHapp that recommends CBT strategies (termed "Missions"), this study investigated whether social or non-social CBT strategies would correlate with participants' ratings of helpfulness and distress reduction.