Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 9, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

A Relational Agent Intervention for Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Treatment: Outcomes From a Randomized

Mary Margaret Gleason¹, Megan Flom², Stephanie Rapoport²

¹Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia.

|December 10, 2025

Abstract

Objective:

Despite steady increases in the prevalence of depression and anxiety, many adolescents remain undertreated. Digital mental health interventions (DMHI) may address some barriers to care. This study is the first to examine the prospective noninferiority of a smartphone-based, self-guided relational agent (W-GenZD) DMHI to address adolescent depressive symptoms compared to group-based telehealth cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Method:

Adolescents 13 to 17 years of age who were seeking treatment for depression and/or anxiety at a children's hospital outpatient mental health program and who met study inclusion criteria were randomized to either W-GenZD (n = 71) or CBT Group (n = 70). The primary aim was to examine feasibility and acceptability. The secondary aim was to test the noninferiority of W-GenZD compared to CBT Group on the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) at 4 weeks (end of treatment [EOT]). The study also examined the trajectory of working alliance, anxiety, general mood, and safety in each intervention group.

Results:

W-GenZD was noninferior to CBT Group in reducing depressive symptoms, with a mean between-group PHQ-8 EOT score difference of -0.67, 95% CI = - 2.30, 0.82 in intent-to-treat analysis (N = 141) using multiple imputation for missing values. Four different sensitivity analyses confirmed noninferiority, including per protocol analysis (-1.38, -3.61, 0.86, n = 82). Feasibility, acceptability, and tertiary aims were similar in both groups, and data support the safety of W-GenZD in a mental health outpatient setting.

Conclusion:

Results suggest that W-GenZD is a feasible and efficacious intervention for adolescents presenting with depression and/or anxiety in a real-world setting. W-GenZD could help expand the capacity of mental health clinicians to support the many youth and families in need of mental health care.

Clinical Trial Registration Information:

Feasibility and Acceptability of W-GenZD vs CBT-light Teletherapy for Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Services; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05372913.

Keywords:

adolescent mental health digital mental health noninferiority randomized controlled trial relational agent

More Related Videos

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

Published on: December 2, 2015

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...

Community Based Intervention

Community Based Intervention

Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...

Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders

Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders

Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Guiding Doctoral Students in the Appropriate and Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Proposal Development.

Journal of doctoral nursing practice·2026

A study to measure the utility of an AI-enhanced reporting tool in assisting busy CCTA readers with REPORT generation (SMART-REPORT).

BMC medical imaging·2026

Dosimetric Predictors of Problematic Receptive Anal Intercourse After Prostate Radiation Therapy.

Advances in radiation oncology·2026

A relational agent for treating substance use in adults: A randomized controlled trial with a psychoeducational comparator.

Journal of substance use and addiction treatment·2026

Trauma in Young Children and Their Families.

Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America·2026

Prevalence of Mild to Moderate Mental Illness, Correlates of Treatment Patterns, and Perceived Unmet Need among U.S. Adults: Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2021.

Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH·2026

See all related articles