Chatbot Intervention Effects on Social and Monetary Incentive Processing in Anhedonia

Официальное название

Effects of a Chatbot-Based Intervention on Behavioral Responsiveness and Neural Anticipation of Social and Monetary Incentives in Individuals With Anhedonia

Обзор

The main aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of a Motivational Interviewing-based artificial intelligence chatbot on social incentive processing in college students with elevated levels of depression and anhedonia by combining a randomized active-control intervention design with pre- and post-intervention Social Incentive Delay Task assessments during fMRI.

Подробное описание

Anhedonia represents a core characteristic of depression and is characterized by reduced experience of pleasure. It is closely related to decreased motivation, altered reward processing, changes in affective responsiveness, and alterations in intrinsic brain network function. Anhedonia is not specifically targeted by currently available pharmacological interventions. Initial evidence indicates that an increased willingness to change and implementation of change in daily life can alleviate anhedonia.

The present study aims to examine whether a Motivational Interviewing-based AI chatbot can lead to changes in social incentive processing in college students with elevated anhedonia and depressive symptoms. Social incentive processing is included because social approval, social feedback, and interpersonal reward are important sources of motivation in daily life and may be altered in individuals with elevated anhedonia. The Social Incentive Delay Task allows the study to examine behavioral and neural responses during the anticipation and receipt of social incentives. To this end, eligible participants with a total score of 22 or higher on the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and a score of 14 or higher on the Beck Depression Inventory will undergo a randomized, between-subjects, active-control intervention study. Participants will be assigned to either a Motivational Interviewing-based chatbot group or an active control chatbot group for 1 week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include self-report questionnaires and the Social Incentive Delay Task during functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine psychological, behavioral, and neural effects of the intervention.

Вмешательства

• Поведенческое 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 participant
• Поведенческое 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

Первичные конечные точки

• Neural Activity During Social Incentive Anticipation [Срок оценки: Baseline before the first chatbot interaction and Week 1 after completion of the chatbot intervention.]
• Neural Activity During Monetary Incentive Anticipation [Срок оценки: Baseline before the first chatbot interaction and Week 1 after completion of the chatbot intervention.]

Вторичные конечные точки (2)

• Behavioral Responsiveness to Social Incentive Cues [Срок оценки: Baseline before the first chatbot interaction and Week 1 after completion of the chatbot intervention.]
• Behavioral responsiveness to monetary incentives [Срок оценки: Baseline before the first chatbot interaction and Week 1 after completion of the chatbot intervention.]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• 18-40 years
• Right-handed
• Normal or corrected normal visual acuity
• Participants must show elevated anhedonia and depressive symptoms at screening, defined as a total score of 22 or higher on the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and a score of 14 or higher on the Beck Depression Inventory

Критерии исключения

• History of major central nervous system disorders, such as epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors.
• History of severe mental illness, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorders.
• History of substance or alcohol use disorder or substance or alcohol misuse within the past 12 months that may affect study participation or outcome assessment.
• Individuals currently at high risk of suicide, severe self-harm, or experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis.
• Individuals who are currently using psychiatric medications or have undergone psychotherapy within the past 4 weeks that may significantly affect mood, motivation, or reward processing.
• Severe vision or hearing impairments that cannot be corrected and would interfere with task performance.
• Contraindications to MRI scanning, including metallic implants, pacemakers, severe claustrophobia, or other conditions incompatible with MRI.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Да

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Двойное слепое

Основная цель

Фундаментальное исследование

Центры проведения

Китай · 1 центр

• University of Electronic Science and Technology of China — Чэнду

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT07665242 · BAM_lab_MI_03

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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