Behavioral parent training with optional AI support for children with disruptive behaviors
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) With or Without AI Support in Children With Disruptive Behaviors
This trial will test whether adding a 24/7 AI assistant to online group behavioral parent training helps parents manage children aged 5–12 with disruptive behaviors.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 5 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Fundació Sant Joan de Déu Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Barcelona, Barcelona) |
| Trial ID | NCT07469215 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial compares standard online Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) with BPT plus continuous access to ParenteAI, a 24/7 virtual assistant that offers personalized guidance between sessions. Parents attend eight weekly online group sessions and are randomized to receive the app or not, with outcomes measured at baseline and follow-ups over six months. The primary focus is feasibility and acceptability (utility, satisfaction, therapeutic alliance, attendance, dropout), and secondary outcomes include child disruptive behaviors and irritability and parent depression, anxiety, and stress. Participants are Spanish- or Catalan-speaking primary caregivers of children aged 5–12 with disruptive behavior problems who have regular internet access.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Primary caregivers (Spanish- or Catalan-speaking) of children aged 5–12 with disruptive behaviors who have reliable internet access, stable concurrent treatments, and are willing to attend eight weekly online group sessions.
Not a fit: Families where the child has a primary autism diagnosis, severe mood disorder, psychosis, intellectual disability (IQ < 70), active self-harm, or who are already receiving concurrent psychological treatment are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the AI app could provide immediate, personalized support between sessions, improving access to care and reducing children's disruptive behaviors and parental stress.
How similar studies have performed: Behavioral Parent Training is a well-established effective treatment for disruptive behaviors, and while digital adjuncts have shown promise, continuous AI virtual assistants are relatively novel and less tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being a primary caregiver with a child aged 5 to 12 years exhibiting disruptive behaviors (e.g., symptoms of ODD, CD, IED, ADHD, and/or unspecified behavioral problems). * Having access to an electronic device and regular internet access. * Stable concomitant intervention including medications throughout the study. * Speak Spanish or Catalan language. * Signed informed consent by parents or legal guardians of the child. Exclusion Criteria: * Having ASD as primary diagnosis. * Psychosis, self-harming behaviors, severe mood disorder. * Known Intelligent quotient \< 70 * Caregivers and/or children receiving any concurrent psychological treatment. * No signing the informant consent.
Where this trial is running
Barcelona, Barcelona
- Hospital Sant Joan de Déu — Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Pablo Vidal-Ribas Belil, PhD — Fundació de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu
- Study coordinator: Pablo Vidal-Ribas Belil, PhD
- Email: pablo.vidalribas@sjd.es
- Phone: +34644890465
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.