Understanding and Supporting Young Adults with Anxiety and Depression through AI-Powered DBT Tools
Official title: UNDERSTAND: Uplifting the New generation through DBT Education and Resilience for Social Triggers, Anxiety, Negativity, and Depression
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11205293 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile health system designed to help 18-year-olds manage anxiety and depression in daily life using real-time digital support and DBT-informed guidance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,115,893 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH140883-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11205293 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are 18-year-olds with comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders who use smartphones and wearables and are seeking digital support.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to or interest in digital health tools or who do not experience these conditions may derive little or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project plans a smartphone- and wearable-based system that uses sensors and AI language models to provide timely, person-centered support for young adults with MDD, SAD, GAD, and related conditions. It will combine DBT principles with Just-In-Time adaptive interventions to help users regulate emotions during real-life triggers. The research will involve developing algorithms, validating signals like heart rate variability and speech patterns, and testing how well the tool improves daily functioning and mood in this age group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could reduce symptom burden and improve functioning for young adults dealing with anxiety and depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital health interventions show promise, but this project tests an AI-augmented, real-time JITAI approach grounded in DBT for co-occurring disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weibel, Nadir — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Weibel, Nadir
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.