โก Quick Summary
A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of an AI-assisted service delivery model for implementing cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBTs) in adolescents with ADHD. The findings suggest that while the AI-assisted approach improved treatment efficiency, it also led to a decrease in the quality of motivational interviewing over time.
๐ Key Details
- ๐ Participants: 51 adolescents with ADHD from three community mental health agencies
- ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Therapists: 23 therapists involved in the study
- โ๏ธ Intervention: AI-assisted support vs. standard implementation supports
- ๐ Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
๐ Key Takeaways
- ๐ค AI-assisted support included digitized resources and feedback on therapy fidelity.
- โฑ๏ธ Efficiency: The AI-assisted group experienced more efficient treatment delivery.
- ๐ Appointments: Fewer appointments were attended by adolescents in the AI-assisted group.
- ๐ Quality Decline: There was a significant decrease in motivational interviewing quality over time in the AI group.
- ๐ฃ๏ธ Therapist Feedback: Therapists noted a shift towards a task-oriented mindset with AI support.
- ๐ Future Research: A larger RCT is needed to assess mental health outcomes and cost savings.
- ๐ Trial Registration: NCT05135065; registered September 2021.
๐ Background
Adolescents with ADHD often face challenges in accessing effective treatments, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs). While these therapies have shown promise for long-term outcomes, their implementation in community settings is frequently hindered by various barriers. This study aims to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance the delivery of these treatments, potentially improving both efficiency and outcomes.
๐๏ธ Study
Conducted across three community mental health agencies, this randomized controlled trial involved 51 adolescents with ADHD receiving treatment from 23 therapists. Participants were randomly assigned to either an AI-assisted support group or a standard support group, which included traditional training and resources. The AI-assisted model provided additional digitized resources and real-time feedback on therapy fidelity and quality.
๐ Results
The study revealed that the AI-assisted group benefited from more efficient treatment delivery, with a lower number of appointments attended. However, there was a notable decline in the quality of motivational interviewing over time compared to the standard support group. This suggests that while AI can streamline processes, it may inadvertently affect the relational aspects of therapy that are crucial for effective treatment.
๐ Impact and Implications
The implications of this study are significant for the future of community-based mental health care. By integrating AI technologies into treatment delivery, we can potentially enhance efficiency and reduce the burden on therapists. However, it is essential to balance efficiency with the quality of therapeutic relationships, as these are vital for positive client outcomes. Future research should focus on optimizing AI tools to support both efficiency and the relational dynamics of therapy.
๐ฎ Conclusion
This study highlights the potential of AI-assisted models in improving the delivery of CBTs for adolescents with ADHD. While the findings indicate increased efficiency, they also raise important questions about maintaining the quality of therapeutic interactions. Continued exploration in this area is crucial to ensure that advancements in technology enhance rather than hinder the therapeutic process.
๐ฌ Your comments
What are your thoughts on the integration of AI in mental health treatment? Do you believe it can enhance therapy, or are there risks we should consider? ๐ฌ Join the conversation in the comments below or connect with us on social media:
Improving Community-Based Care for Adolescents with ADHD: a Randomized Controlled Trial of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Fidelity Supports.
Abstract
Cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBTs) for adolescents with ADHD demonstrate promise of long-term effects on outcome. However, their implementation in routine care community clinics faces barriers that impact quantity, efficiency, and quality of delivery, as well as client outcomes. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the impact of an AI-assisted service delivery model on therapist implementation of Supporting Teens’ Autonomy Daily (STAND), a CBT blended with Motivational Interviewing (MI) for adolescents with ADHD. Adolescents with ADHD (Nโ=โ51), who were clients at three community mental health agencies, received treatment from 23 therapists. There was randomization of adolescents and therapists to AI-assisted or standard implementation supports. In addition to standard supports (i.e., training, standard facilitation resources, technical assistance, case supervision), AI-assisted support package included digitized facilitation resources housed in a clinical dashboard (Care4), feedback on content fidelity, and AI-generated feedback on MI implementation quality. The AI-assisted group was associated with more efficient treatment delivery and lower number of appointments attended by the adolescent. There was also a significant decrement in MI quality over time in the AI-assisted group compared to the standard support group. Feedback in focus groups indicated that therapists perceived a task-oriented mindset to be associated with receipt of the AI-assisted support package, leading therapists to prioritize efficiency over relational aspects of therapy. Following the results of this trial, a future, larger RCT should examine the impact of the AI-assisted implementation model on mental health outcomes and cost savings to organizations, third party payers, and clients. Trial registration number: NCT05135065; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Registered September 2021.
Author: [‘Sibley MH’, ‘Bickman L’, ‘Atkins D’, ‘Coxe S’, ‘King J’, ‘Tanana M’, ‘Martin P’, ‘Page TF’, ‘Ortiz M’, ‘Tapia J’, ‘Sparber A’, ‘Zhao X’]
Journal: Prev Sci
Citation: Sibley MH, et al. Improving Community-Based Care for Adolescents with ADHD: a Randomized Controlled Trial of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Fidelity Supports. Improving Community-Based Care for Adolescents with ADHD: a Randomized Controlled Trial of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Fidelity Supports. 2025; (unknown volume):(unknown pages). doi: 10.1007/s11121-025-01868-x