Peer-reviewed article
eHealth in the management of PTSD in children and adolescents: a scoping review.
Ju L, Zhang D, Guan R, Xue Y, Sun H et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined how digital health technologies are being used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. The review found 26 studies from 2010 to 2025 using various technologies including apps, websites, virtual reality, and telemedicine. While these tools showed feasibility and acceptability, evidence for their clinical effectiveness remains mixed and inconsistent, particularly from randomized controlled trials. The review highlights that most research has focused on school-aged children and adolescents, with gaps in evidence for younger children and vulnerable populations.
Key points
- eHealth modalities for pediatric PTSD include websites, mobile applications, digital games, telemedicine, virtual reality, and wearable sensors
- Non-randomized studies generally reported short-term PTSD symptom improvements, whereas randomized controlled trials yielded inconsistent results
- Overall feasibility and acceptability were high, but challenges included home environment distractions, technical issues, and privacy concerns
- Most studies focused on school-aged children and adolescents, with limited attention to preschoolers or vulnerable populations
- Evidence for clinical efficacy remains insufficient and long-term follow-up data is limited
Limitations
This is a scoping review that synthesizes existing literature rather than conducting new research, so it cannot provide definitive evidence of what works best. The review cannot determine which specific eHealth technologies are most effective or cost-efficient for different populations and settings.
Abstract
Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in settings with limited access to traditional mental health services. eHealth technologies are increasingly used to manage pediatric PTSD; however, evidence remains fragmented and unsynthesized. Aim To comprehensively map the application of eHealth technologies in the management of PTSD among children and adolescents, with a focus on technology modalities, target populations, implementation settings, content elements, outcomes, feasibility, and acceptability. This review also aimed to identify current evidence gaps and highlight priorities for future research. Study design Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, seven databases were searched up to November 2025. Eligible studies involved eHealth tools targeting pediatric PTSD and included quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods designs. Study quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Results A total of 26 studies published between 2010 and 2025 were included. eHealth modalities encompassed websites, mobile applications, digital games, telemedicine, virtual reality, and wearable sensors, covering the full management continuum from training, assessment, prediction, prevention, intervention, to monitoring. Most studies focused on school-aged children and adolescents, with limited attention to preschoolers or vulnerable populations. Non-randomized studies generally reported short-term PTSD symptom improvements, whereas randomized controlled trials yielded inconsistent results, with limited long-term follow-up data. Overall, feasibility and acceptability were high; however, challenges included distractions in home environments, technical issues, privacy concerns, and variable adherence. Conclusion eHealth demonstrates broad applicability and feasibility in pediatric PTSD management, yet evidence for clinical efficacy remains insufficient. The field is transitioning from "technology validation" toward "efficacy evaluation and system integration." Future research should prioritize rigorous randomized controlled trials, extended follow-ups, culturally and developmentally appropriate designs, cost-effectiveness analyses, and deeper integration of eHealth into clinical care pathways. Policy support is essential to ensure sustainable implementation, especially in resource-limited settings.