Clinical trial NCT06858371: Testing the Effectiveness of AI Chatbots to Improve Public Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Depression
Official title: Effectiveness and Usability of AI-based Chatbots in Improving Depression Literacy, Attitudes Toward Depression, Help-Seeking Intentions, and Confidence in Helping Others: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Depression Literacy
Depression Disorders
Stigma of Mental Illness
Lead sponsor: Peking University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-03-05
Enrollment: 200
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to find out whether using AI Chatbots can help the public better understand depression, reduce negative attitudes towards it, and encourage more people to seek help when needed. The study will also explore whether the Chatbot can help individuals feel more confident in supporting others who might be experiencing depression.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either:

1. AI-PsyTeacher Group: Participants interact with the AI psychology teacher "Liran" to complete three progressive tasks (identifying depression symptoms, learning coping strategies, and understanding prevention). This group assesses the independent role of AI in mental health education.
2. AI-Integrated Intervention Group: Participants first learn with the AI psychology teacher "Liran" and then interact with the AI-simulated depressed patient "Beibei" to complete three tasks (identifying issues, teaching coping strategies, and creating a prevention plan). This group examines the combined effect of AI teaching and patient simulation.
3. Traditional Psychoeducation Group (Control): Participants gain depression-related knowledge by reading traditional educational materials and watching a first-person experience video. This group serves as the control to compare AI interventions.

Primary outcomes include changes in depression literacy, attitudes toward depression, help-seeking intentions, and confidence in helping others. The study aims to determine whether AI-driven interactive learning can improve public understanding and support for mental health.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults aged 18 to 65.
2. General population, non-clinical individuals.
3. No history of diagnosed mental disorders or current mental health diagnosis.
4. Ability to complete AI interactions and related tasks via the internet or mobile devices.
5. Native Chinese speakers.
6. Willingness to participate in the study and sign an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of mental disorders or self-reported current mental health issues.
2. Currently undergoing psychological counseling.
3. Inability to use mobile or internet devices properly.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Depression Literacy Scale (D-Lit)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: Depression Literacy Questionnaire
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: Depression Stigma Scale (DSS)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: Acquisition Questionnaire (AQ-9)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: System Usability Scale (SUS)
timeFrame: immediately after the intervention
measure: Confidence in Helping Others Scale
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: Basic Empathy Scale in Adults (BES-A)
timeFrame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, 1-week follow-up, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
measure: Mental Health-Related Behavior Questionnaire
timeFrame: pre-intervention, 4-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Beijing
country: China
facility: Peking university
Study officials:
References: