Exploring ethical issues in mobile mental health interventions

A Mixed-Methods Study of the Ethical Issues Surrounding Mobile Sensing in Digital Mental Health Interventions

NIH-funded research University of Virginia · NIH-11063572

This study is looking at how using smartphones and wearables can help people with social anxiety by providing personalized support, while also making sure that your privacy and consent are respected.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Virginia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Charlottesville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11063572 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the ethical considerations surrounding the use of mobile sensing technologies, such as smartphones and wearables, in delivering mental health interventions. It focuses on Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) that aim to provide personalized support to individuals experiencing social anxiety. By engaging participants in discussions about their experiences and concerns, the study seeks to understand the implications of data collection, privacy, and consent in this context. The goal is to ensure that these innovative mental health solutions are both effective and ethically sound.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who experience high levels of social anxiety and are open to discussing their experiences with mobile mental health technologies.

Not a fit: Patients who do not experience social anxiety or are not interested in using mobile technologies for mental health support may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more ethical and effective mobile mental health interventions for individuals with social anxiety.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been research on mobile mental health interventions, this study uniquely addresses the ethical concerns specific to individuals with social anxiety, making it a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Charlottesville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.