Clinical Trial: Comparing AI-Based and Human Mental Health Consultation in University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining Causal Effects on Self-Disclosure Barriers and Help-Seeking Intention (Japan)

Tokyo, July 29 -- UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) received information related to the study (UMIN000062370) titled 'A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of AI Chat and Human Chat-Based Mental Health Consultation on Self-Disclosure Barriers and Subsequent Help-Seeking Intention: A Study Targeting University Students' on July 28.

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Basic Design - Parallel Randomization - Randomized Blinding - Open -no one is blinded Control - Active

Primary Sponsor: Institute - Fukushima Medical University

Condition: Condition - Healthy Classification by malignancy - Others Genomic information - NO

Objective: Narrative objectives1 - In response to mental health challenges faced by college students, this study compares AI counseling and human counseling as counseling channels and examines (1) the psychological mechanisms underlying barriers to self-disclosure (attitudes toward disclosure inhibition), as well as (2) their impact on the intention to seek counseling and the subjective sense of resolution immediately following the conversation. Basic objectives2 - Others

Intervention: Interventions/Control_1 - AI Chat Group:Consult with an AI chatbot based on the provided scenario Interventions/Control_2 - Human Chat Group:Chat with a friend role-player to discuss matters based on the given scenario

Eligibility: Age-lower limit - 18 years-old <= Age-upper limit - Not applicable Gender - Male and Female Key inclusion criteria - 1) Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences or the Graduate School of Health Sciences at Fukushima Medical University 2) Individuals who have access to the internet and can use chat tools 3) Individuals who can read and write in Japanese Key exclusion criteria - 1) Individuals currently receiving care or undergoing treatment at a psychiatric or psychosomatic medicine clinic 2) Individuals whom the principal investigator determines would be adversely affected physically or mentally by participating in the study 3) Any other individuals whom the principal investigator determines are unsuitable for participation Target Size - 30

Recruitment Status: Recruitment status - Preinitiation Date of protocol fixation - 2026 Year 07 Month 24 Day Date of IRB - 2026 Year 07 Month 24 Day Anticipated trial start date - 2026 Year 07 Month 24 Day Last follow-up date - 2027 Year 03 Month 31 Day

To know more, visit https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000071381

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.