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
Thirteen studies were identified that compared personalized to non-personalized components, with the personalization of IBI content and personalized guidance investigated the most. 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. Two studies reported better adherence for human feedback personalized to user input than for the automated non-personalized guidance.
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 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.
