Digital therapeutics and apps

This page is reference information compiled from the cited sources. It is not medical advice. For any decision about health, diagnosis or care, consult a qualified professional.

What it is

Digital therapeutics are a subset of digital health and are evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by high quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease. They are treatments or therapies that utilize digital and often Internet-based health technologies to spur changes in patient behavior. Digital therapeutics deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients that are driven by high quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat a broad spectrum of physical, mental, and behavioral conditions. They are different from wellness apps or medication reminders in that they require rigorous clinical evidence to substantiate intended use and impact on disease state. Digital therapeutics can be used as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with more conventional treatments like pharmacological or in-person therapy.

Key facts

Digital therapeutics rely on behavioral and lifestyle changes usually spurred by a collection of digital impetuses. Treatments are being developed for the prevention and management of a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including type 1 & type II diabetes, congestive heart failure, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, asthma, substance abuse, ADHD, hypertension, anxiety, depression, and several others. The methodology uses a variety of digital implements like mobile devices, apps, sensors, desktop computers, and various Internet of Things devices. Because of the digital nature of the methodology, data can be collected and analyzed as both a progress report and a preventative measure. Digital therapeutics often employ strategies rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, and many approaches use methods based upon cognitive behavioral therapy to spur patients to make lifestyle changes, reinforced with gamification, peer support, and in some cases telehealth such as coaching or psychotherapy. The use of digital products to improve health outcomes dates as far back as 2000, and the term itself has been in use since around 2012. As of 2018, digital therapeutics continues to be an evolving field that medical professionals, students, and patients are beginning to utilize.

When to seek professional help

Digital therapeutics can be used as a preventive measure for patients who are at risk of developing more serious conditions, such as a patient with prediabetes. They can also be used as a treatment option for existing conditions, such as a patient with type II diabetes. The source text states that digital therapeutics can be used in conjunction with more conventional treatments like pharmacological or in-person therapy. The source describes digital therapeutics being used to manage and improve outcomes in conditions including Alzheimer's disease, dementia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung disease, obesity, substance abuse, ADHD, insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, and depression. The source also notes that a recent study demonstrated video-based behavioral activation therapy for perinatal depression was delivered by trained nonspecialists, and a systematic review found that nonspecialist-delivered counseling, often by phone or online, significantly lowered perinatal depression and anxiety compared with usual care.

Source: Digital therapeutics (CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)), retrieved 2026-09-25.