The recently released GAMIAN-Europe report, Advancing Digital Mental Health Interventions for Schizophrenia, offers timely and actionable insights for stakeholders in mental health clinical research—especially pharmaceutical companies and research sites exploring the role of digital therapeutics in schizophrenia. The report outlines how digital mental health interventions (DMHIs)—including AI-driven tools, smartphone apps, and virtual reality-based therapies—are increasingly seen as promising adjuncts to traditional treatment. Interventions like AVATAR therapy for auditory hallucinations and SloMo for paranoia have demonstrated strong user engagement and satisfaction, highlighting their potential to improve symptom management, reduce relapse rates, and support long-term recovery.

Crucially, the report stresses the need for co-development between patients, clinicians, researchers, and developers to ensure that DMHIs are safe, effective, and aligned with real-world needs. While these tools may enhance care delivery, they are not substitutes for in-person interactions. The report identifies key implementation barriers such as privacy, clinical validation, and the slow uptake of digital tools within current care frameworks—challenges that also represent opportunities for industry leadership.

For the research sites and sponsors, these findings underscore a growing imperative: to consider how digital interventions can be integrated into clinical trial design and post-trial support. Sites can play a key role in evaluating the feasibility and patient receptivity of digital tools, while sponsors have an opportunity to co-create and validate DMHIs that complement pharmacological interventions. As digital technology and treatments evolve, incorporating these technologies may improve participant engagement, retention, and outcomes.