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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDThe American journal of geriatric psychiatry. Open science, education, and practice

A Self-Guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App for Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Anxiety or Depression: Pilot Feasibility, Acceptability, and Symptom Reduction.

  • Jennifer N Bress1
  • Maddy M Schier1
  • Zareen Mir1
  • Abhishek Jaywant1
  • Avital Falk1
  • Shannon Bennett1
  • Jo Anne Sirey1
  • Faith M Gunning1
  1. 1Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.
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Abstract

Objectives

This pilot study evaluated acceptability, feasibility, and symptom reduction with Maya-a cognitive behavioral therapy app adapted for middle-aged and older adults-and identified themes in qualitative feedback.Methods

Participants were 10 adults aged 44-75 with depressive or anxiety disorders who received a 6-week (12-session) program of Maya. Outcomes were measured at baseline and weeks 3, 6, and 12.Results

Acceptability (User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale) exceeded four out of five, indicating good acceptability, at all time points. Participants completed M = 7.00 (58.3%) of 12 sessions by week 6 (end of intervention). Clinically meaningful decreases in depression (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale) were observed in 57% and 71% of participants, respectively, who completed the week 6 assessment.Conclusions

These results provide preliminary evidence that the Maya app is acceptable and feasible in middle aged and older adults. Next steps include an adequately powered randomized controlled trial.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bress2026selfguided,
  title = {{A Self-Guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App for Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Anxiety or Depression: Pilot Feasibility, Acceptability, and Symptom Reduction.}},
  author = {Jennifer N Bress and Maddy M Schier and Zareen Mir and Abhishek Jaywant and Avital Falk and Shannon Bennett and Jo Anne Sirey and Faith M Gunning},
  journal = {The American journal of geriatric psychiatry. Open science, education, and practice},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1016/j.osep.2026.07.001},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42877446},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - A Self-Guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App for Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Anxiety or Depression: Pilot Feasibility, Acceptability, and Symptom Reduction.
AU  - Jennifer N Bress
AU  - Maddy M Schier
AU  - Zareen Mir
AU  - Abhishek Jaywant
AU  - Avital Falk
AU  - Shannon Bennett
AU  - Jo Anne Sirey
AU  - Faith M Gunning
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/18
JO  - The American journal of geriatric psychiatry. Open science, education, and practice
DO  - 10.1016/j.osep.2026.07.001
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42877446
AB  - Objectives  This pilot study evaluated acceptability, feasibility, and symptom reduction with Maya-a cognitive behavioral therapy app adapted for middle-aged and older adults-and identified themes in qualitative feedback.Methods  Participants were 10 adults aged 44-75 with depressive or anxiety disorders who received a 6-week (12-session) program of Maya. Outcomes were measured at baseline and weeks 3, 6, and 12.Results  Acceptability (User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale) exceeded four out of five, indicating good acceptability, at all time points. Participants completed M = 7.00 (58.3%) of 12 sessions by week 6 (end of intervention). Clinically meaningful decreases in depression (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale) were observed in 57% and 71% of participants, respectively, who completed the week 6 assessment.Conclusions  These results provide preliminary evidence that the Maya app is acceptable and feasible in middle aged and older adults. Next steps include an adequately powered randomized controlled trial.
SN  - 2950-3868
ER  -