Systematic Review on the Effects of Personalization of Treatment Components in Internet-based Interventions for Mental Disorders

Background: Internet-based interventions (IBIs) offer the potential for personalization through various mechanisms and components. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the personalization of treatment components within IBIs targeting diverse mental health conditions. Specifically, we focused on studies that directly compared personalized components to standardized ones to isolate the impact of personalization on mental health outcomes and treatment adherence.Results: Twelve studies were identified that compared personalized to non-personalized components, with the majority focusing on the personalization of IBI content. Apart from one study that personalized more than one IBI component, studies did not find a significant positive effect of personalization on mental health outcomes or adherence.Discussion: The results reveal a gap between the theoretical potential of personalization in IBIs and the current evidence supporting its impact on outcomes and adherence. The diversity in personalization strategies across studies further complicates the ability to draw definitive conclusions. To address this, more detailed descriptions of how personalization is both implemented and communicated to patients are recommended.