Pai.ACT: AI-Driven ACT Chatbot for Mental Health Triage and Service Evaluation

Launched by CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG · Jan 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Pai.ACT trial is exploring a new way to support parents of children with special needs, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in Hong Kong. The main focus of the trial is an AI chatbot that uses principles from a type of therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This chatbot is designed to help parents manage their mental health by providing personalized support based on their interactions with it. Depending on their needs, parents can access helpful self-help materials, video sessions with trained counselors, or be referred to specialized mental health services.

To participate in this study, parents must be Cantonese-speaking residents of Hong Kong and live with a child aged 2 to 9 years who has a confirmed or suspected neurodevelopmental condition. However, parents with severe mental illnesses or those who are pregnant or recently postpartum cannot take part. By joining this trial, eligible parents can expect to receive valuable mental health support tailored to their situation, which can improve their well-being and help them better support their child’s development. The trial aims to make mental health resources more accessible and reduce the stigma around special needs in the community.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • The participants of the study are primary caregivers, specifically parents, must be Cantonese-speaking residents of Hong Kong.
• • Eligible parents are required to cohabitate with a child aged 2 to 9 years who has either a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental condition, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Developmental Delay (DD). These conditions must be recognised by the Child Assessment Service of the Department of Health and meet the diagnostic criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The diagnosis or suspected diagnosis must be formally documented in the child's case profile maintained at the collaborating non-governmental organisations.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Parents diagnosed with severe mental illnesses.
• • Pregnant parents or those less than six months postpartum.
• • Parents with a developmental disability that impairs their ability to understand the program's content.
• • Parents with cognitive, language, communication, visual, or hearing impairments that could hinder their comprehension of the intervention content.
• • Parents actively participating in other psychosocial, psychoeducational, or parenting interventions.