Aurora: AI-based chatbot that supports emotional well-being through guided storytelling
Official title: Aurora: Evaluation of an AI-Based Narrative Intervention for Emotional Well-Being, Identity Processes, and Recovery-Oriented Outcomes in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations
Run by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona · NCT07494110 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 55 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Barcelona, Barcelona and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | April 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | March 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07494110 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Llar Residència Gràcia(Grup ATRA)
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Albert Feliu-Soler Associate Professor Serra Húnter Fellow, PhD
- Email: albert.feliu@uab.cat
- Phone: +34935812778
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
A large-scale digital health study using Apple devices
This study is trying to see how data from Apple devices can help us understand and manage different health issues like mental health, sleep, and exercise for a wide range of people.
-
Combined mindfulness and walking-pole program for older adults
This program will try a 4-week mindfulness course followed by 12 weeks of walking-pole exercise to see if it improves physical function, mood, and sleep for community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older.
-
A study on brain health and aging in Bordeaux.
This study is trying to understand how different factors, like diet and health, affect brain aging and the risk of dementia in people aged 55 and older living in Bordeaux.
-
Aquatic power training dosing strategies and creatine in older adults
This trial tests whether different aquatic power training dosing methods and creatine supplementation help improve function in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older.
-
Intergenerational Interaction Program for Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Students
A 6-week program pairs nursing home residents with nursing students to see if weekly joint activities can increase joy and reduce loneliness for older adults and lessen ageism in students.
-
Supplemental Mobility for older adults in skilled nursing facilities
This pilot tests whether adding a mobility aide to support walking and transfers alongside regular rehab helps older adults in SNFs after hospitalization see more daily activity and safer mobility.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.