Delivery Techniques for Cognitive-Behavioural Stress Management: A Feasibility Study

Participants who are randomly allocated to the intervention group will complete one module of Cognitive-Behavioural Stress Management (CBSM) therapy delivered by a digital human (“DH-CBSM”). A digital human is an animated, embodied conversational agent that is presented on a computer screen. It uses artificial intelligence to provide social and emotional engagement. Participation will occur in a private clinic room at the University of Auckland Clinical Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. Participants will interact with the digital human software for 90 minutes to complete one module of CBSM. This module involves learning about stress management and practicing two stress management skills: stress symptom awareness and a deep breathing exercise (guided 6 slow breaths of 10 seconds in length). Participants will be provided with a paper therapy manual that includes supporting information and exercises for learning about stress awareness and planning their deep breathing practice. Participants will complete the therapy module individually and in private with a research assistant accessible in a nearby room for technical support if needed. In the two weeks after the face-to-face session, participants will be required to complete online homework exercises remotely. These involve watching three psychoeducation videos on stress management and practicing a deep breathing exercise. Homework exercises will take up to one hour to complete over the two weeks. Overall, participation in the study will require a total of two hours and 45 minutes per participant (face-to-face session plus homework exercises). The therapy manual and psychoeducation videos were adapted to this study from a 10-week Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management group therapy program that are not publicly available. Intervention adherence (homework completion) will be assessed using a self-report measure administered at two weeks follow-up.