AI-Based Coach Promising for Behavioral Therapy
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, June 12, 2023 -- A novel virtual voice-based coach delivering problem-solving treatment may improve anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as brain function, according to a study published online May 12 in Translational Psychiatry.
Thomas Kannampallil, Ph.D., from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues conducted a pilot trial in which adults with mild-to-moderate depression and/or anxiety were randomly assigned to the Lumen intervention (42 patients; virtual voice-based coach delivering problem-solving treatment) or to a wait-list control (21 patients).
The researchers found that activation of the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) decreased in the intervention group but increased in the control group, meeting the prespecified threshold for a meaningful effect (Cohen’s d = 0.3). Change in activation of the left dlPFC and bilateral amygdala were of smaller magnitude (d = 0.2). There was a meaningful association observed between change in right dlPFC activation (r ≥ 0.4) and changes in self-reported problem-solving ability and avoidance in the intervention. There were also decreases noted in depression, anxiety, and overall psychological distress scores associated with the intervention, with medium effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.49, 0.51, and 0.55, respectively) versus the control group.
"This kind of technology may serve as a bridge," a coauthor said in a statement. "It's not meant to be a replacement for traditional therapy, but it may be an important stop-gap before somebody can seek treatment."
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry and one cofounded a company that develops artificial intelligence software that tracks brain function.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2023
Read this next
Teens May Experience Delays in Bipolar Progression After Major Depressive Disorder
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Adolescents may experience delayed bipolar disorder (BD) progression after major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, according to a study published online...
Teen Smartphone Use Positively Tied to Mood
THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Adolescent smartphone use is positively associated with mood, according to a study published online May 29 in PLOS ONE. Matt Minich, Ph.D., and...
Some Healthy Teens Are Given Cannabidiol for Health Reasons
THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- About 3 percent of healthy adolescents are given commercial cannabidiol (CBD) for health reasons, according to a study published online May 7 in Cannabis...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.