Brief digital mental health interventions for adults: user experience, real-world uptake, AI priorities, and economic implications

Abstract

Brief digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) represent a promising strategy for addressing the increasing global demand for accessible psychological support. Despite high usability and satisfaction reported in clinical trials, real-world adoption remains limited. This study examines the drivers of this adoption gap by synthesizing evidence from user experience research, digital health competence studies, and health technology assessment literature. The Article introduces the Pharmaco Economic Digital Twin (PEDT) concept as a framework for integrating clinical, behavioral, and economic data streams into adaptive evaluation models. Results indicate that sustained engagement with digital mental health tools depends on maintaining an equilibrium between therapeutic effectiveness and user experience quality while simultaneously strengthening workforce digital competence and establishing sustainable reimbursement pathways.