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Implementing a mental health app intervention in a university setting: multi-methods evaluation study
Liverpool, S., Fletcher, K., Chopra, T.K., Jay, D., Walters, F., & Kaye, L.K. (2024). Mental Health and Digital Technologies (Emerald Publishing). DOI: 10.1108/MHDT-07-2024-0015A pilot evaluation of Orpheus run through the Student Wellbeing Service at Edge Hill University. Twenty-six students used the app across 39 completed sessions.
On 37 of the 39 (94.9%) occasions, students reported a reduction in the intensity of an unwanted emotion immediately after using the app, from an average of 7.5 down to 3.7 (0 to 10 scale). Among the 15 students who completed follow-up outcome measures at least two weeks later, there were statistically significant average reductions in both anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) scores. Around half showed a clinically meaningful improvement in one or both measures. No adverse events were recorded.
Early, promising evidence that Orpheus can be integrated into a real university wellbeing service. The authors are clear this was a small, single-site pilot with a largely white, female sample, so further research with more diverse and larger groups is needed.
The effect of motor interference therapy in traumatic memories: A pilot study
Morales-Rivero, A., Reyes-Santos, L., Bisanz, E., Ruiz-Chow, A., & Crail-Melendez, D. (2020). Brain and Behavior (Wiley). DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1984An open-label pilot study at Mexico’s National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, testing the Orpheus-style finger-tapping/audio intervention with 10 patients who each had at least one distressing traumatic memory and met the criteria for PTSD.
After a single ~30-minute session, patients showed statistically significant improvements across every measure used, including PTSD symptom severity, distress ratings, and quality of life, with continued improvement a week later. At the one-week follow-up, 30% of patients no longer scored highly enough to meet PTSD diagnostic criteria.
A small but carefully measured pilot suggesting the approach may produce a rapid reduction in trauma-memory distress. The authors note this needs replication in a larger, controlled, double-blind trial.
The Orpheus Medical Device: Might it work? Including A Secondary Data Analysis
Ireland, K. (2024). BSc Dissertation (PSY3097), School of Psychology, Newcastle University. Supervised by Dr Stuart Watson.An undergraduate dissertation examining whether Orpheus could have a role in NHS anxiety treatment pathways, built around a secondary analysis of real-world in-app usage data (22,702 rows covering 933 unique users and 11,351 uses of the “Unwanted Emotions” track), a semi-structured interview with practitioner Sally Baker, and a review of the two PTSD studies above.
Across all 11,351 track uses in the dataset, self-reported emotional intensity dropped significantly after use (average reduction of roughly 4 points on a 0 to 10 scale). Usage patterns varied widely, most users tried the track a handful of times, while a small group used it 100+ times.
A supervised undergraduate dissertation analysing data provided by Orpheus Mind Technologies, reviewed under Newcastle University’s ethics process, a genuine, methodical piece of work, but a dissertation rather than an independently peer-reviewed publication, and not designed as a clinical trial. We’re sharing it because the underlying data (nearly a thousand real users) is a useful real-world signal, not because it should be read as clinical-grade proof.
Taken together, these studies point in a consistent direction: people using Orpheus tend to report a significant, fairly rapid reduction in the intensity of unwanted emotions and trauma-related distress. That’s encouraging, and it’s why we keep investing in further research, see our current research projects.
This isn’t yet the same as large-scale, independently replicated clinical trial evidence for any specific diagnosis. Orpheus is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health treatment, and if you’re currently receiving treatment for a mental health condition, we’d always recommend discussing any new tool with your healthcare provider first.
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