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AnxietyAugust 2024Summary reviewed August 2026

An App for Anxiety Cut Symptoms by 38% in Young Adults

Young adults with anxiety disorders used a mobile app called Maya for six weeks. The app taught cognitive behavioral therapy skills like breathing exercises, thought challenges, and exposure practice. Anxiety scores dropped by 38% on average, and the improvements lasted at least another six weeks after they stopped using it.

What the trial was testing

The trial enrolled 59 patients with anxiety. The study was sponsored by Weill Medical College of Cornell University and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.

What the results showed

Anxiety symptoms dropped by 38% after six weeks of using the app.

JAMA network open · 2024 · NCT05130281

These findings — that anxiety scores dropped by more than a third after six weeks — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 59 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with anxiety, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

This app isn't widely available yet, but it shows that a well-designed phone app can make a real difference if you're dealing with anxiety. If you're between 18 and 25 and struggling, talk to your doctor about cognitive behavioral therapy — whether through an app, a therapist, or both. The skills work, and you don't have to white-knuckle it alone.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.