A new analysis from a clinical trial led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian suggests that brain connectivity could help predict which individuals benefit most from using a self-guided anxiety care app.
The study indicates that younger users with weaker connections between specific brain regions dedicated to both focusing on and managing anxious responses are likely to see more significant improvements when using the app compared to those with stronger connections between these areas.
Published in JAMA Network Open, this research examined data from trial participants who were willing to undergo a brain MRI before using the anxiety care app developed by the investigators.
JAMA Network Open,The app known as Maya offers users a course in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which equips them with skills to alter negative thought patterns, overcome challenging behaviors, and develop new coping mechanisms through videos, exercises, and educational content.
Initial findings from the clinical trial involving 59 participants demonstrated reduced anxiety symptoms for several users following app usage. Now, these results could assist in identifying those most likely to benefit.
"Individuals with weaker connections within critical brain networks involved in anxiety regulation respond better when using the app," said senior author Dr. Faith Gunning, an associate professor of psychology and vice chair for research in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Dr. Gunning added that this finding aligns with CBT’s focus on teaching emotional regulation.
Developed by Dr. Gunning and her team, the Maya app addresses limitations in care accessibility for young adults suffering from anxiety, particularly those aged 18 to 25 experiencing life changes and heightened risks of anxiety disorders during a period with potential gaps in healthcare coverage or reluctance toward seeking in-person mental health services.
The clinical trial observed that 59 anxious young adults using the app twice weekly over six weeks experienced reduced symptoms throughout the study monitoring period, with some reporting lasting improvements even after discontinuing its use.
Data from MRI scans of 30 participants before they used Maya helped investigators determine if brain connectivity patterns could predict the likelihood of symptom improvement when learning CBT techniques through the app.
The results indicate that young adults with anxiety and less efficient brain regulation in response to anxiety-inducing information benefited more compared to those with stronger connections related to heightened attention on potentially threatening or anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Co-author Dr. Abhishek Jaywant, an assistant professor of neuropsychology at Weill Cornell Medicine and a psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, highlighted the significance of this research: "It suggests brain connectivity patterns may aid in determining who responds best to app-based anxiety treatments."
Dr. Gunning emphasized that tailored treatment could improve future care for young adults impacted by disabling anxiety symptoms during critical life stages.