Abstract
Covid-19 has raised the burden of mental health globally so much so that some epidemiologists have termed it as a silent tsunami. For the purposes of equity and access and to ease the burden on the already overburdened healthcare systems, practitioners and governments worldwide are using a hybrid approach of an in-person consultation combined with digital intervention to mental health service. These digital interventions could be in the form of apps, wearables, chatbots. But the diffusion and pricing patterns of these apps is less understood. In this paper I examine the role of technology, privacy and scientific validation in the diffusion and free pricing of digital mental health apps. I use a novel publicly available dataset from Harvard Medical School – Mobile Health Index and Navigation Database (MIND), App Evaluation Resources at BIDMC (mindapps.org) (Torous et al.,2021; Funnell et al, 2022). Using a sample of 889 apps using cross sectional count data models and logistic regression models, I find that technology compatibility (whether the app is installable on Android, iOS, web or all) positively impacts app installs. Also, if the app has been validated through scientific studies, then the installs of the app increases (Larsen et al., 2019; Firth J et al., 2017). However, the privacy strength of an app (whether the app is HIPAA compliant, has data stored on a server/device, data can be deleted and such other policies) seems to be not influencing app installs (Iwaya et al., 2022). As the app becomes more technologically complaint, it decreases the likelihood of an app being totally free, scientific validations impacts it’s the other way, whereas privacy policies of the app do not seem to be playing a role in app pricing. In a horse race between technology, science, and privacy, I find the results hold consistent with recent work (Mubin et al. 2021). Interestingly, the results vary by app ownership (Government/ For- profit/ Not-for profit / Academic institution/ Healthcare company) as well. Government and not for profit apps in contrast to others seem to be having a stronger positive effect on installs and free availability of the app, compared to the for-profit apps.