Depression, AnxietyPAPINCT06240091
Potency and Precision Investigation
A study testing DISC-MA in people with Depression, Anxiety, run by Woebot Health at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The overarching goal of this study is to establish initial proof of mechanism for precision interventions in an adult population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- DISC-MA
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 203 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Mar 2024to 9 May 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Must be 18-75 years of age
- Must own or have regular access to a smartphone with a recent operating system installed (Android: OS 8.0 or higher, Apple: iOS 13.0 or higher) with reliable Wi-Fi access or sufficient data plan to engage with assigned treatment condition for the duration of the study
- Must be available and committed to engage with the program and complete assessments for a 4-week duration
- Must be able to read and write in English
- Must have primary residence in the United States
- Must have mild or greater symptoms of depression and/or anxiety at Screening/Baseline, indicated by a score > 4 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and/or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)
Who cannot join
- Current suicidal ideation with a plan and/or intent or a suicide attempt within the past 12 months
- Previous Woebot use
- Involuntary inpatient psychiatric hospitalization any time within the past 30 days
- Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder
- Lifetime diagnosis of a psychotic disorder
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Woebot Investigational Site
San Francisco, California, 94105
About this study
Official title: An Exploratory Open-Label Potency and Precision Investigation of a Relational Agent Intervention
The overarching goal of this study is to establish initial proof of mechanism for precision interventions in an adult population.
Read the detailed description
This exploratory single-arm trial will provide initial learning on the current implementation of precision interventions and generate data and hypotheses to inform the exploration of future interventions by identifying mechanisms and moments in the user journey to target. The DISC-MA app uses a relational agent (Woebot) to engage users in conversations. Eligible participants will be assigned to use DISC-MA, in which Woebot selects from a list of responses based on natural language processing. Participants will receive instructions on downloading and using the DISC-MA app in order to access the intervention. Participants will use the app as instructed and will complete assessments for the primary endpoint as Week 4 (EOT) with additional measures being collected as Baseline, Week 1, and Week 2. Results from this study will provide data on baseline participant clinical and psychological characteristics and their engagement with DISC-MA, and associations between the two.
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety
- Being tested
- DISC-MA
- Keywords
- Woebot, Relational agent, Digital mental health intervention, Chatbot, Conversational agent, Natural language processing, Artificial intelligence
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
DISC-MADevice
DISC-MA is a digital program that utilizes elements from validated psychotherapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), with a relational agent (Woebot) that engages users in conversations with responses that are selected from a list based on natural language processing.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DISC-MA | Experimental | All participants will be asked to download and use the DISC-MA study application. They will have access to the app throughout the 4 week study. Receives: Device: DISC-MA |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR), Total Scale
Measure of working alliance. A 12-item measure that assesses three key aspects of the therapeutic alliance: (a) agreement on the tasks of therapy, (b) agreement on the goals of therapy, and (c) development of an affective bond. For the purposes of the study, the word "therapist" was replaced with "Woebot". Total mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater alliance between the participant and Woebot.
Measured: 1 week and Post-treatment at 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2024
- Study start13 Mar 2024
- Primary completion9 May 2024
- Study completion9 May 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Depression, AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 203 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Woebot Health
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Tim Campellone, PhD, Principal investigator, Woebot Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06240091
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- W-DISC-002
- Acronym
- PAPI
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 23 Jan 2024
- Last updated
- 19 Feb 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Feb 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Exploratory Open-Label Potency and Precision Investigation of a Relational Agent Intervention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06240091
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PAPI / W-DISC-002
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety
- Keywords
- Woebot, Relational agent, Digital mental health intervention, Chatbot, Conversational agent, Natural language processing, Artificial intelligence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 203 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Woebot HealthIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 13 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 9 May 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 9 May 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 19 Feb 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The overarching goal of this study is to establish initial proof of mechanism for precision interventions in an adult population.
Detailed description
This exploratory single-arm trial will provide initial learning on the current implementation of precision interventions and generate data and hypotheses to inform the exploration of future interventions by identifying mechanisms and moments in the user journey to target. The DISC-MA app uses a relational agent (Woebot) to engage users in conversations. Eligible participants will be assigned to use DISC-MA, in which Woebot selects from a list of responses based on natural language processing. Participants will receive instructions on downloading and using the DISC-MA app in order to access the intervention. Participants will use the app as instructed and will complete assessments for the primary endpoint as Week 4 (EOT) with additional measures being collected as Baseline, Week 1, and Week 2. Results from this study will provide data on baseline participant clinical and psychological characteristics and their engagement with DISC-MA, and associations between the two.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DISC-MA | Experimental | Device: DISC-MAAll participants will be asked to download and use the DISC-MA study application. They will have access to the app throughout the 4 week study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Must be 18-75 years of age
- Must own or have regular access to a smartphone with a recent operating system installed (Android: OS 8.0 or higher, Apple: iOS 13.0 or higher) with reliable Wi-Fi access or sufficient data plan to engage with assigned treatment condition for the duration of the study
- Must be available and committed to engage with the program and complete assessments for a 4-week duration
- Must be able to read and write in English
- Must have primary residence in the United States
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Current suicidal ideation with a plan and/or intent or a suicide attempt within the past 12 months
- Previous Woebot use
- Involuntary inpatient psychiatric hospitalization any time within the past 30 days
- Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder
- Lifetime diagnosis of a psychotic disorder
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| DISC-MADISC-MA is a digital program that utilizes elements from validated psychotherapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), with a relational agent (Woebot) that engages users in conversations with responses that are selected from a list based on natural language processing. | Device | DISC-MA |
Primary outcome
Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR), Total Scale
Time frame: 1 week and Post-treatment at 4 weeks
Measure of working alliance. A 12-item measure that assesses three key aspects of the therapeutic alliance: (a) agreement on the tasks of therapy, (b) agreement on the goals of therapy, and (c) development of an affective bond. For the purposes of the study, the word "therapist" was replaced with "Woebot". Total mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater alliance between the participant and Woebot.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Feb 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
Related trials for Depression, Anxiety
Active, not recruiting
Preventing Anxiety and Depression in Older Hispanics
Depression, Anxiety
RecruitingPhase 1
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin in Patients With Arginine-vasopressin Deficiency
Vasopressin Deficiency
Recruiting
Virtual Reality Intervention to Improve Psychological Symptom Burden for Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment
Adjustment Disorder, Anxiety Disorder
RecruitingObservational study
Evolution of Insomnia During the First Year in Patients Newly Diagnosed With Cancer
Cancer, Insomnia
Active, not recruiting
Resilient Students Training (ReST) : A Pilot RCT
Psychological Wellness
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tim Campellone, PhD principal investigator
Woebot Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing DISC-MA in people with Depression, Anxiety, run by Woebot Health at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 19 Feb 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR), Total Scale (time frame: 1 week and Post-treatment at 4 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Feb 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 27 Oct 2026.