Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Chatbot for Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Chatbot for Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a self-guided digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for adolescents who engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The intervention is delivered through a mobile-based program and consists of seven modules focusing on acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values, and committed action. Adolescents will complete the intervention over a 3-week period and will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. The study will examine whether the digital ACT intervention can reduce NSSI and improve psychological flexibility and other indicators of mental health, including depression, anxiety, hope, and emotion regulation.
Aperçu de l'étude
Statut
Les conditions
Intervention / Traitement
Description détaillée
Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is highly prevalent among adolescents. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has shown promise, but access to traditional therapy is limited. Chatbot-based interventions offer a scalable alternative.
Objective: This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the efficacy of an ACT-based chatbot in reducing NSSI among adolescents.
Methods: Participants will be randomized 1:1 to the intervention group (ACT-based chatbot) or a waitlist control group. The intervention lasts three weeks, with modules covering acceptance, cognitive defusion, values, and committed action. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month and 3-months follow-up. Primary outcome is the frequency of NSSI episodes. Secondary outcomes include NSSI severity,anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms.
Analysis: Intention-to-treat analysis will be used. Mixed-effects models will assess changes over time between groups.
Type d'étude
Inscription (Estimé)
Phase
- N'est pas applicable
Contacts et emplacements
Coordonnées de l'étude
- Nom: Jiaojiao Jia
- Numéro de téléphone: China code +86 15308622827
- E-mail: jiajiaojiao@mails.ccnu.edu.cn
Critères de participation
Critère d'éligibilité
Âges éligibles pour étudier
Accepte les volontaires sains
Sexes éligibles pour l'étude
La description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Be adolescents aged 10-19 years (Sawyer et al., 2018).
- Have engaged in five or more self-injurious behaviors within the past year and meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
- Provide assent to participate, with written informed consent obtained from both the adolescent and their legal guardian.
- Have access to a smartphone capable of completing the study procedures, including logging into the study mini-program to complete the self-guided intervention and sending and receiving text messages.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Have an intellectual disability or other significant cognitive, neurodevelopmental, or visual impairment that may interfere with their ability to complete the study procedures.
- Have a severe physical illness.
- Be experiencing an acute episode of a severe mental disorder, such as a manic episode of bipolar disorder.
- Have experienced suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt within the past month.
- Do not have access to a smartphone or are unable to use one to complete the study procedures.
Plan d'étude
Comment l'étude est-elle conçue ?
Détails de conception
- Objectif principal: Traitement
- Répartition: Randomisé
- Modèle interventionnel: Affectation parallèle
- Masquage: Seul
Armes et Interventions
Groupe de participants / Bras |
Intervention / Traitement |
|---|---|
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Aucune intervention: Groupe de contrôle
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Expérimental: "ACT-Based Chatbot" Group
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The intervention is a fully automated, text-based chatbot delivered via a mobile application or web platform. It is based on the core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Over three weeks, participants will engage with the chatbot for approximately 10 minutes per day, 3 days per week. The chatbot delivers structured modules covering: (1) acceptance and willingness to experience difficult emotions; (2) cognitive defusion techniques; (3) present-moment awareness; (4) self-as-context; (5) values clarification; and (6) committed action. The chatbot includes safety protocols that provide crisis resources and emergency contact information if participants report severe self-harm urges or suicidal ideation. The intervention is designed to be self-guided, with no human therapist involvement, to ensure scalability and accessibility. |
Que mesure l'étude ?
Principaux critères de jugement
Mesure des résultats |
Description de la mesure |
Délai |
|---|---|---|
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Severity of non-suicidal self-injury behaviors
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The Behavior subscale of the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire (ANSAQ) will be used to assess adolescents' non-suicidal self-injury behaviors and functions. The Behavior subscale consists of 12 items, rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (always). |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Mesures de résultats secondaires
Mesure des résultats |
Description de la mesure |
Délai |
|---|---|---|
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Depression
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be used to assess depressive symptoms. The questionnaire consists of nine items, each rated from 0 to 3. Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Anxiety
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) will be used to assess anxiety symptoms. The scale consists of seven items rated on a 4-point scale: 0 (not at all), 1 (several days), 2 (more than half the days), and 3 (nearly every day). Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety symptoms. |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Autres mesures de résultats
Mesure des résultats |
Description de la mesure |
Délai |
|---|---|---|
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Psychological flexibility
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The 24-item Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI-24) will be used to measure psychological flexibility. The MPFI-24 assesses two broad domains: psychological flexibility (PF) and psychological inflexibility (PI), comprising 24 items in total. Items are rated on a 6-point scale. PF includes six processes: contact with the present moment, acceptance, cognitive defusion, self-as-context, committed action, and values. PI includes six processes: lack of contact with the present moment, experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, self-as-content, inaction, and lack of contact with values. |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Hope
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The Children's Hope Scale (CHS) will be used to assess adolescents' goal-related cognitive tendencies, including agency thinking and pathways thinking. The scale consists of six items across two dimensions. Items are rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 6 (always), with higher scores indicating higher levels of hope. |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Emotion Regulation Strategies
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (RES) will be used to assess adolescents' perceived self-efficacy in regulating their emotions. The scale consists of 12 items across three dimensions. Items are rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly inconsistent with me) to 5 (strongly consistent with me). |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Functions of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Délai: The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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The Function subscale of the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire (ANSAQ) will be used to assess the functions underlying adolescents' NSSI. The Function subscale consists of 19 items, rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (always). |
The assessment time points will be: baseline, immediately after the third intervention module, immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention), 1-month follow-up after intervention completion, and 3-month follow-up after intervention.
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Client Satisfaction
Délai: This measure will be administered immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention).
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The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) will be used to measure clients' satisfaction with psychological interventions. It consists of 8 items rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. |
This measure will be administered immediately after the sixth intervention module (post-intervention).
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Collaborateurs et enquêteurs
Parrainer
Collaborateurs
Les enquêteurs
- Chercheur principal: Zhihong Ren, PhD, Central China Normal University
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Autres numéros d'identification d'étude
- CCNU-IRB-202603054A
- 2024YFC3308400 (Autre subvention/numéro de financement: National Key R&D Program of China)
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