ClientBot for Alcoholism Counseling

Overseen By Roisin Slevin

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Lyssn.io, Inc.

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines how effectively an AI tool called ClientBot can train counselors working with individuals facing alcohol issues. The goal is to determine if practice sessions with ClientBot enhance counselor skills compared to traditional training methods. Participants will either use ClientBot for practice or continue their regular training without it. Clinician trainees working with the Prevention Research Institute may find this trial suitable.

As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative training methods and improve counseling skills.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that ClientBot is safe for counselor training?

Research shows no specific safety data for ClientBot, a conversational AI tool designed to train counselors in handling alcohol-related issues. However, this trial does not involve medication or physical treatments. Instead, it uses technology to enhance counselor training.

In similar studies, AI tools have been used safely in healthcare, as they don't carry the same risks as traditional medical treatments. For example, one study used an AI tool called MIcha, based on GPT-4, to assist with behavior change. Although this study didn't report safety data, AI tools like ClientBot are generally low-risk since they are software-based and don't physically affect users.

This research is in the "Not Applicable" phase, focusing on the technology's usefulness and effectiveness rather than safety in a medical sense. Therefore, participants can generally expect a low-risk experience, as the main focus is on interacting with software, not medical treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

ClientBot is unique because it offers a cutting-edge approach to alcoholism counseling through AI-driven interactive sessions. Unlike traditional methods such as one-on-one therapy or group meetings, ClientBot provides personalized, consistent practice sessions that can be accessed conveniently from anywhere. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it harnesses technology to potentially deliver more consistent support and engagement, which could lead to better outcomes in managing alcoholism. Additionally, its digital format could make it more accessible to individuals who may face barriers attending in-person sessions.

What evidence suggests that ClientBot is effective for training alcohol counselors?

Research shows that ClientBot, available to participants in this trial, holds promise for training counselors to address alcohol issues. In a previous study, participants using ClientBot improved their listening skills by 31% compared to those without feedback. This suggests that ClientBot can effectively enhance counseling skills, crucial for supporting individuals with alcohol problems. Although this does not directly demonstrate ClientBot's impact on people with alcoholism, it underscores the tool's potential to enhance counselor effectiveness. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for clinician trainees who are currently participating in training programs with the Prevention Research Institute (PRI). There are no specific exclusion criteria, so all those involved in such training are eligible to participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Clinician trainee participating in training with Prevention Research Institute (PRI)

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Stage 1: Usability and Interviews

Interviews with PRI trainers and trainees to assess current training practices and introduce the ClientBot platform.

1 month

Online sessions

Stage 2: Field Trial

A 2-week field trial with 20 recent PRI trainees to assess user workflow and system interaction with ClientBot.

2 weeks

Daily online interaction

Stage 3: Randomized Training Study

Randomized study with 200 PRI trainees to compare ClientBot training with training as usual (TAU).

6-8 months

Weekly practice sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for effectiveness and implementation readiness after training.

2 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• ClientBot

Trial Overview The study is testing 'ClientBot', an AI-based conversational agent designed to simulate a realistic client with alcohol concerns. It aims to support counselor training by providing performance feedback during motivational interviewing exercises.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: ClientBot (CB) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

CB trainees will engage in 5 weekly practice sessions with ClientBot

Group II: Treatment as Usual (TAU) Active Control 1 Intervention

TAU will receive no training during the intervention period.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lyssn.io, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

4

Recruited

2,500+

Prevention Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

160+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

An online alcohol check-up program was developed and tested with 1,455 participants over 25 months, revealing that 83% had scores indicating problem drinking, highlighting the program's potential to reach individuals with untreated alcohol issues.

Participants with higher ambivalence about their drinking found the automated program particularly helpful, suggesting that computer-administered therapy can effectively engage those motivated to change their substance use behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Determinants of satisfaction with an automated alcohol evaluation program. Lieberman, DZ.[2019]

The study explores the effectiveness of a controlled drinking computer program designed for individuals with drinking problems, particularly targeting drink driving offenders.

This approach suggests that using microcomputer programs could be a cost-effective and efficient treatment option for addressing alcohol-related issues, leveraging the positive evidence for brief interventions and self-help materials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can microcomputers help the problem drinker? Eltringham, A., Barber, JG.[2006]

In a study with 32 participants, those who received a correct paraphrase of their medical query from conversational assistants were more likely to follow the advice given, highlighting the importance of accurate information delivery.

Participants who received a disclaimer message were significantly more inclined to consult a physician before acting on the advice, suggesting that incorporating disclaimers can help mitigate the risks of harmful medical recommendations from conversational assistants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mitigating Patient and Consumer Safety Risks When Using Conversational Assistants for Medical Information: Exploratory Mixed Methods Experiment. Bickmore, TW., Ólafsson, S., O'Leary, TK.[2022]

The Internet can significantly enhance addiction treatment by enabling efficient delivery of educational content and secure collection of self-reported data on substance use, making treatment more accessible and effective.

Internet applications support various aspects of addiction treatment, including assessment, monitoring patient outcomes, ongoing recovery support, and training for treatment providers, ultimately improving the quality of care and patient engagement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How Internet technology can improve the quality of care for substance use disorders. Cucciare, MA., Weingardt, KR., Humphreys, K.[2019]

The behavioral coaching chatbot Tess was successfully integrated into the counseling of 23 adolescent patients dealing with weight management and prediabetes, showing high engagement with 4,123 messages exchanged and 96% of users finding it helpful.

Adolescents reported positive progress toward their health goals 81% of the time, indicating that Tess effectively supported treatment adherence and behavior change, demonstrating the potential for BITs to enhance behavioral health interventions in pediatric settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of pediatric obesity and prediabetes treatment support through Tess, the AI behavioral coaching chatbot. Stephens, TN., Joerin, A., Rauws, M., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-alcohol-use-disorders-aud-8-2022-249ac

ClientBot for Alcoholism Counseling · Info for Participants An online alcohol check-up program was developed and tested with 1,455 participants over 25 months, revealing that 83% had scores indicating problem drinking, ...

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/328532642_Development_and_Evaluation_of_ClientBot_Patient-Like_Conversational_Agent_to_Train_Basic_Counseling_Skills_Preprint

(PDF) Development and Evaluation of ClientBot: Patient ... Finally, after feedback was removed the ClientBot group used 31% more listening skills overall (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS This proof-of-concept ...

3. jmir.org jmir.org/2019/7/e12529/

Development and Evaluation of ClientBot: Patient-Like ... Finally, after feedback was removed, the ClientBot group used 31% (32.5/24.7) more listening skills overall (P<.001). Conclusions: This proof-of ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12220637/

Investigating psychotherapists' attitudes towards artificial ... This study aims to investigate these attitudes, focusing on factors influencing AI acceptance and perceived usefulness.

5. go.drugbank.com go.drugbank.com/conditions/DBCOND0074737

Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) (DBCOND0074737) Effectiveness of an Intervention in Patients With Excessive Alcohol Consumption ... Novel MGluR5 Modulator Effects on Alcohol Drinking and MRI Outcomes. GET-73.

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581925000710

LLM-based conversational agents for behaviour change ... This study examines the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles in a GPT-4-based chatbot, MIcha, to promote behaviour change.

7. malacards.org malacards.org/card/alcohol_use_disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder Integrated disease information for Alcohol Use Disorder including associated genes, mutations, phenotypes, pathways, drugs, and more - integrated from 78 ...

8. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e56402

Harnessing Innovative Technologies to Train Nurses in ... This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an eLearning training in suicide safety planning among nurses serving patients admitted ...