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RECRUITING
NCT07663019
NA

Chatbot Intervention Effects on Belief Updating in Anhedonia

Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

The main aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of a Motivational Interviewing-based artificial intelligence chatbot on belief updating in college students with elevated levels of depression and anhedonia by combining a randomized active-control intervention design with pre- and post-intervention behavioral belief updating task assessments.

Official title: Effects of a Chatbot-Based Intervention on Valence-Dependent Belief Updating and Expectancy Bias for Life Events in Individuals With Anhedonia

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - 40 Years

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

80

Start Date

2026-06-20

Completion Date

2028-12-31

Last Updated

2026-06-23

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

MI Chatbot Interaction

The experimental chatbot is designed to use principles of Motivational Interviewing to support participants in exploring their personal values, motivation for change, and daily behavioral goals related to pleasure, engagement, and reward-seeking. During the intervention period, participants will interact with the chatbot regularly through brief text-based conversations. The chatbot will provide empathic, non-judgmental responses, encourage reflection on current difficulties, and help participants identify small, feasible actions that may increase daily engagement and positive experiences. It will not provide diagnosis, crisis counseling, or medical treatment.

BEHAVIORAL

Active Control Chatbot Interaction

Participants will interact with a chatbot matched in format and frequency of use. This chatbot will provide neutral nature-related stories or general natural history content. It will be designed to maintain participant engagement while avoiding therapeutic techniques, motivational interviewing strategies, behavioral activation guidance, or personalized mental health advice. This active control condition will help control for nonspecific effects of chatbot interaction, attention, expectancy, and digital engagement.

Locations (1)

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Chengdu, Sichuan, China