Use of a Generative AI (Gen-AI) Chatbot for Anxiety and Depression Among Persons With Cannabis Use

Purpose

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Therabot-CALM (Cannabis, Anxiety, Low Mood) has acceptability among users and could work to improve the symptoms of persons with cannabis use disorder and anxiety and/or depression. The main question it aims to answer is: What is the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of Therabot-CALM in persons with Cannabis Use Disorder and Anxiety and/or Depression? Participants will - Take a screening questionnaire - Participate in two virtual 1-hour interviews to provide feedback on app design and suggest features. - Engage with Therabot-CALM in a 4-week clinical trial and provide feedback on their app experience in a third virtual interview

Conditions

  • Cannabis Use Disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Depression, Anxiety
  • Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Is 18 years or older. - Meet criteria for current CUD (CUDIT-R>=12) and MDD (PHQ-9>=10), and/or GAD (GAD-7>=10). - Have reliable access to the internet and a compatible device for Therabot-CALM. - Have willingness and capacity to provide informed consent and commit to participating in all assessments and interventions during the study. - Attend the first interview.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Moderate to High risk of STBs as determined by the C-SSRS or baseline questionnaires. - Current psychosis (as determined by brief psychosis screen). - Current participation in another digital mental health intervention.

Study Design

Phase
Phase 1
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Therabot-CALM Model
Primary Purpose
Device Feasibility
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Therabot-CALM
Participants will engage in three one-hour interviews and a 4-week clinical trial where they may interact with Therabot-CALM as much or as little as they want.
  • Device: Therabot-CALM
    Therabot is a generative-AI-driven mobile app designed to provide mental health treatment. The feasibility of Therabot-CALM, an adapted Therabot application, is being tested for the future use of treating co-occurring substance use disorders and anxiety and/or depression. The primary purpose of this study is application feasibility.

Recruiting Locations

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Trustees of Dartmouth College

Study Contact

Michael V Heinz, MD
(603) 277-9110
michael.v.heinz@hitchcock.org

Detailed Description

Participants will complete a two-stage screening process via REDCap to determine their eligibility for enrollment. Participants who meet criteria and provide informed consent will be enrolled and participate in three interviews and the 4-week clinical trial. After the first interview, researchers will fine-tune Therabot-CALM based on feedback received during the interview. After the second interview, experts by experience (EBEs) will engage with Therabot-CALM at least once per day for 4 weeks. After the clinical trial period, participants will receive an email with a link to complete the post-intervention measures delivered via REDCap, including the System Usability Scale (SUS), Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale (TAAS), Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test - Revised (CUDIT-R), the Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory (DFAQ-CU), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire for depression (PHQ-9), and the 7-item generalized anxiety disorder screener for DSM-5 (GAD-7). Participants will then be asked to return for a third interview to provide feedback on their experience with Therabot-CALM. Researchers will use the IDEAS (Innovate, Develop, Evaluate, Adapt, Scale) Impact Framework to plan and conduct three, one-on-one interviews with a trained research assistant (RA). Each interview script will be developed using the IDEAS Impact Framework and follow a semi-structured design, such that the RA will follow a set of questions, with as-needed probing for follow-up. Interviews will be recorded via a virtual platform.