Digital and alternative therapies for anxiety: a bibliometric and bibliographic review

This article aims to analyze the use of digital technologies and alternative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of anxiety through a bibliometric and bibliographic review. Anxiety, considered one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide, has encouraged the search for complementary therapeutic methods such as neurofeedback, virtual reality, gamification, mobile apps, and art therapy. The methodology consisted of a bibliometric search in the scientific databases Scopus and Web of Science, initially resulting in 105 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7 articles were selected for in-depth bibliographic analysis. The bibliometric analysis showed a steady increase in publications on the subject in recent years, especially between 2020 and 2024, a period marked by the intensification of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mental health. The bibliographic review revealed that the studies address different digital and non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches, showing benefits such as symptom reduction, improved treatment engagement and adherence, and expanded access to mental health care. However, it was also found that most mobile apps lack scientific validation, which poses a challenge for clinical recommendation. It is concluded that although technology-based alternative therapies represent a promising field for anxiety treatment, further studies are needed to assess their effectiveness, safety, and applicability in different populations. This article contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field by integrating recent evidence and highlighting gaps for future research.