Abstract
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. Despite its significant impact on patients’ well-being, its etiology remains unclear, and diagnosis is often challenging. Currently, effective depression management requires long-term patient engagement, which includes consistent self-care, adherence to treatment plans, and ongoing mental health literacy. However, the quality of depression-related videos on short-video platforms varies widely, and some may contain misinformation that patients struggle to identify. This study aims to assess the information quality of depression-related short videos on TikTok (Douyin), the largest short-video platform in China. Based on the composite ranking, the top 200 depression-related videos on TikTok (Douyin) were rigorously screened by two independent psychiatrists according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Videos were categorized by publisher type, and detailed engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments, favorites) were recorded. Video quality was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), JAMA Benchmark Criteria, and the modified DISCERN tool (mDISCERN). Content analysis covered six key domains: definition, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Finally, correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between video quality and engagement metrics. The study ultimately included 121 depression-related videos, the majority of which (62%) were published by healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists (39.7%) and psychologists (13.2%). Overall, video quality was low, with median scores of 2 (IQR: 1–3) for both GQS and JAMA, and 0 (IQR: 0–1) for mDISCERN. In contrast, videos authored by psychiatrists provided more comprehensive coverage of depression-related content and demonstrated superior reliability and quality, with median scores of 3 (IQR: 2–3) for DISCERN, 2.5 (IQR: 2–3) for GQS, and 1 (IQR: 1–2) for JAMA. Notably, psychiatrist-produced videos also achieved higher public engagement metrics. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between video quality scores and public engagement. Overall, the quality of depression-related video content on TikTok (Douyin) remains suboptimal and requires significant improvement. There is a pressing need for more high-quality, evidence-based depression-related videos to facilitate long-term and effective self-management among individuals with depression. Simultaneously, such efforts would help improve public awareness and accurate understanding of depression.
Data availability
The original data used in this study were obtained from TikTok (Douyin) (https://www.douyin.com/) and are publicly available on the platform. The analyzed datasets generated during the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the participants who participated in the study.
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The quality of the basic information and content of the videos was recorded and assessed by two independent reviewers (Tao HL and Wang LN), and any disagreements were resolved by consultation with a third researcher (Lin YB). As this study involved the analysis of publicly available short videos without any direct involvement of human subjects, obtaining informed consent was not applicable. This research adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for utilizing publicly available data.
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The data used in this study were sourced from publicly available video content published on TikTok (Douyin). These videos are publicly accessible, and no personal privacy information was involved during the data collection process. All analyzed content was publicly available, and the study did not involve the collection or processing of users’ private information. In accordance with relevant ethical review guidelines, ethical approval for this study was not required.
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The quality of the basic information and content of the videos was recorded and assessed by two independent reviewers (Tao HL and Wang LN), and any disagreements were resolved by consultation with a third researcher (Lin YB). As this study involved the analysis of publicly available short videos without any direct involvement of human subjects, obtaining informed consent was not applicable. This research adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for utilizing publicly available data.
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Lin, Y., Tao, H., Wang, L. et al. The quality and reliability of short videos about depression on TikTok (Douyin): a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45237-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45237-2
