Aurora: AI-based chatbot that supports emotional well-being through guided storytelling
Aurora: Evaluation of an AI-Based Narrative Intervention for Emotional Well-Being, Identity Processes, and Recovery-Oriented Outcomes in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations
This project tests whether an AI-supported chatbot, used together with a trained facilitator, can help adults — including residents of long-term mental health facilities — express emotions and build personal life stories to improve emotional well-being.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 55 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Barcelona, Barcelona and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07494110 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Aurora uses a structured, person-centered storytelling process supported by generative AI and supervised by a licensed mental health facilitator to promote autobiographical meaning-making and emotional expression. The intervention was iteratively refined with simulated interactions before enrolling humans. The clinical portion follows a sequential, non-randomized three-arm design with an anticipated total of 55 participants, including a single-session arm of healthy adults and a four-hour, multi-session arm for adults with DSM-5 diagnosed mental disorders in residential care. Outcomes include pre/post session affect, usability and satisfaction measures, and qualitative feedback to gauge acceptability and emotional safety.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older who can read Spanish, including healthy volunteers for a single guided session and clinically stable residents of participating long-term mental health facilities with DSM-5 diagnoses for the multi-session arm.
Not a fit: People who are acutely psychiatrically unstable, require immediate clinical treatment rather than supportive storytelling, or cannot read Spanish are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Aurora could help people express emotions, reconstruct personal narratives, and create personalized life-books that support identity and emotional recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional guided reminiscence and life-story interventions have shown benefits for emotional well-being in older adults and some clinical populations, but generative-AI chatbot–mediated narrative support remains novel with limited human trial data.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria Arm 1: Healthy Adults (Single-Session Intervention) Age 18 years or older at screening. Sufficient ability to read and understand Spanish to follow study instructions and complete questionnaires. Ability to engage in a brief guided interaction and complete self-report measures. Able and willing to provide written informed consent. \--- Arm 2: Adults with DSM-5 Diagnosed Mental Disorder in Residential Care (4-hour Intervention) Age 18 years or older at screening. Currently residing in a participating long-term mental health residential care facility and expected to remain there for the duration of the intervention and post-assessment period. Documented diagnosis of a mental disorder according to DSM-5 criteria, confirmed by the treating clinician. Minimal clinical stability at baseline, defined as all of the following: Clinically stable in the judgment of the treating clinician. No requirement for acute psychiatric hospitalization or crisis intervention in the previous 4 weeks. Clinical Global Impression - Improvement (CGI-I) score between 3 and 5 inclusive during the 4 weeks prior to enrollment, indicating relative clinical stability. Sufficient ability to understand spoken and written Spanish to participate in study procedures. Ability to engage in guided interaction and provide feedback. Able and willing to provide informed consent; when applicable, provision of legal guardian consent plus participant assent. Willingness to participate in all study procedures. \--- Arm 3: Healthy Older Adults (≥65 Years; 4-hour Intervention) Age 65 years or older at screening. No self-reported diagnosis of a serious mental disorder (for example, psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder). Sufficient ability to read and understand Spanish to participate in study procedures. Adequate cognitive and communication abilities to engage in guided interaction and complete questionnaires. Able and willing to provide written informed consent. \--- Exclusion Criteria Arm 1: Healthy Adults Current acute medical or psychiatric condition that would compromise safe participation or data validity. Moderate or high acute suicide or self-harm risk at screening. Significant cognitive, communication, or comprehension impairment that would interfere with participation. Explicit refusal to participate. \--- Arm 2: Adults with DSM-5 Diagnosed Mental Disorder in Residential Care Current acute psychiatric decompensation requiring crisis-level care. Moderate or high acute suicide or self-harm risk at screening or baseline. High risk of clinically significant emotional harm from autobiographical life review, defined as treating clinician judgment that narrative or reminiscence work is contraindicated due to one or more of the following: Severe clinical destabilization within the past 3 months. Trauma-related re-experiencing symptoms. Marked dissociative symptoms. Inability to provide informed consent, with no legal representative available when required, or lack of participant assent when applicable. Significant cognitive, communication, or comprehension impairment without available supports. Explicit refusal to participate. Imminent discharge or transfer that would prevent completion of the intervention or post-assessment. \--- Arm 3: Healthy Older Adults Self-reported diagnosis of a serious mental disorder (for example, psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder). Moderate or high acute suicide or self-harm risk at screening. Current acute medical or psychiatric condition that would compromise safe participation. Significant cognitive, communication, or comprehension impairment that would interfere with participation. Explicit refusal to participate.
Where this trial is running
Barcelona, Barcelona and 1 other locations
- Llar Residència Gràcia(Grup ATRA) — Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona — Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Albert Feliu-Soler Associate Professor Serra Húnter Fellow, PhD
- Email: albert.feliu@uab.cat
- Phone: +34935812778
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.