A recent review published by Nature checked online app stores for mental health apps and their credibility. The study claims that from a total of 1435 apps found on Google Play an iTunes, many use “scientific language […] to support effectiveness”; however only 24 identify specific scientific methods or techniques and only 1(!) actually “included a citation to published literature” (find details here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-019-0093-1). Even more troublesome is the finding that “a third referred to techniques for which no evidence could be found”.

The design of the ECoWeB project reacts to that, by making science the starting point and basis of all our work. ECoWeB uses an assessment part that combines solely scientifically validated tests to identify each individual’s capacities with respect to emotional competencies and beyond. Based on these individual findings, a personalized app can be downloaded that consists of scientifically proven intervention techniques that help to foster and improve emotional competencies.

We don’t use this evidence-based approach for the sake of science (well, of course we are interested in the results and publishing papers based on these 😉); we use an empirical approach because it is the best way to ensure the effectiveness of the app and safety of our users.

Soon you will find the app in app-stores in many European countries and hopefully the group of the above-mentioned article will run an update of their study and find a slightly better and more scientifically based picture!