AI avatar-led mental health program to help employees with depression stay at work
Evaluating the Impact AI Avatar-led Mental Health Interventions for Keeping Employees in Work
This project will test whether an AI avatar-led, self-guided mental health program can help employees with depression feel better and remain working.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Roehampton Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (London) |
| Trial ID | NCT07436117 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
About 50–80 adults with depressive symptoms will be randomly assigned to start an online AI avatar-led cognitive behavioural program immediately or to continue usual support and access the program later. The program is self-guided and delivered in several short sessions over a few weeks, with participants completing questionnaires on mood, anxiety, and work functioning before and after the study period. A subset of participants will be invited to brief interviews to describe their experience using the program and to report any concerns. The study will also monitor safety and acceptability in a working population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older living in the UK who currently have depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score >5), are not receiving other therapy, and do not report frequent suicidal thoughts are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with frequent suicidal thoughts (PHQ-9 question 9 score >2), those already in other forms of therapy, or those with very severe, complex depression may not receive benefit from this self-guided program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could offer a scalable, accessible way for employees with depression to improve mood and workplace functioning without needing face-to-face therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Digital and online CBT programs have shown moderate benefits for depression in prior studies, but AI avatar-led delivery is relatively novel with limited direct evidence to date.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants will be eligible if they currently experience symptoms of depression (score above 5 on the PHQ-9) * Participants should be aged 18 or above. * Participants need to be resident in the UK. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with frequent thoughts of suicide/self-harm will be excluded (scoring above 2 on Question 9 of the PHQ-9 "Thoughts that I would be dead or hurting myself in some way") * Participants who are currently undergoing other forms of therapy will be excluded.
Where this trial is running
London
- University of Roehampton — London, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Laura M Vowels, PhD
- Email: laura.vowels@roehampton.ac.uk
- Phone: +447858024296
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.