Using a mental health chatbot, Tess, to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety

Using psychological artificial intelligence (Tess) to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety: randomized controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN61214172

Enrollment

115

Registered

2018-11-19

Start date

2017-08-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2024-01-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Providing on-demand support for students with self-identified, and non-clinical range, symptoms of depression and anxiety Mental and Behavioural Disorders Depression, anxiety

Interventions

Confirmed participants were randomized via a computer algorithm that automatically generated a number between 0 and 2, and then placed into one of three groups. No Intervention: Control Group particip

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Current enrollment at a university in the United States 2. Aged 18 years and older (screened at the first level via checkbox confirmation) 3. Able to read English (implied) 4. Informed consent signed 5. To guard against compromise, for example, from malicious bots, all potential participants were sent an email requesting that they respond using their university email denoting their confirmation

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Depression severity assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for the control group, at baseline and 2 weeks for Test Group 1 and at baseline and 4 weeks for Test Group 2 2. Generalized anxiety disorder severity assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD7) questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for the control group, at baseline and 2 weeks for Test Group 1 and at baseline and 4 weeks for Test Group 2 3. Positive and negative mood assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for the control group, at baseline and 2 weeks for Test Group 1 and at baseline and 4 weeks for Test Group 2	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Depression severity assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for the control group, at baseline and 2 weeks for Test Group 1 and at baseline and 4 weeks for Test Group 2 2. Generalized anxiety disorder severity assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD7) questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for the control group, at baseline and 2 weeks for Test Group 1 and at baseline and 4 weeks for Test Group 2 3. Positive and negative mood assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for the control group, at baseline and 2 weeks for Test Group 1 and at baseline and 4 weeks for Test Group 2

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
User satisfaction assessed using a survey at week 4 for the control group, week 2 for Test Group 1 and at week 4 for Test Group 2	—

Countries

United States of America

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 23, 2026