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.
調査の概要
詳細な説明
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.
研究の種類
入学 (推定)
段階
- 適用できない
連絡先と場所
研究連絡先
- 名前：Jiaojiao Jia
- 電話番号：China code +86 15308622827
- メール：jiajiaojiao@mails.ccnu.edu.cn
参加基準
適格基準
就学可能な年齢
健康ボランティアの受け入れ
受講資格のある性別
説明
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.
研究計画
研究はどのように設計されていますか？
デザインの詳細
- 主な目的：処理
- 割り当て：ランダム化
- 介入モデル：並列代入
- マスキング：独身
武器と介入
参加者グループ / アーム |
介入・治療 |
|---|---|
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介入なし：対照群
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実験的："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. |
この研究は何を測定していますか？
主要な結果の測定
結果測定 |
メジャーの説明 |
時間枠 |
|---|---|---|
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Severity of non-suicidal self-injury behaviors
時間枠：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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二次結果の測定
結果測定 |
メジャーの説明 |
時間枠 |
|---|---|---|
|
Depression
時間枠：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
時間枠：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.
|
その他の成果指標
結果測定 |
メジャーの説明 |
時間枠 |
|---|---|---|
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Psychological flexibility
時間枠：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
時間枠：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
時間枠：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
時間枠：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.
|
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
時間枠：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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協力者と研究者
捜査官
- 主任研究者：Zhihong Ren, PhD、Central China Normal University
出版物と役立つリンク
研究記録日
主要日程の研究
研究開始 (推定)
一次修了 (推定)
研究の完了 (推定)
試験登録日
最初に提出
QC基準を満たした最初の提出物
最初の投稿 (実際)
学習記録の更新
投稿された最後の更新 (実際)
QC基準を満たした最後の更新が送信されました
最終確認日
詳しくは
本研究に関する用語
その他の研究ID番号
- CCNU-IRB-202603054A
- 2024YFC3308400 (その他の助成金/資金番号：National Key R&D Program of China)
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