Digital Coach to Support Exposure Therapy Homework for Anxious Youth
This study is testing a digital tool called BraveBot to help young people (ages 12-22) with anxiety disorders or OCD who are doing exposure therapy homework as part of their treatment. BraveBot is a computer program that talks with you through your phone or computer to support you during "face-your-fears" homework assigned by your therapist. Sometimes you'll do the homework with BraveBot's coaching, and sometimes on your own. The study will measure how well you understand the homework, how much effort you put in, and how capable you feel after each exposure. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 50 participants.
- Study design
- This is an open-label study where each individual exposure homework assignment is randomly chosen to be done with BraveBot or on your own. It involves up to 50 participants.
- What's involved
- You will complete clinician-assigned exposure therapy homework, sometimes with BraveBot coaching and sometimes independently. After each exposure, you will answer a few short questions about how it went.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your responses will be measured immediately after each completed exposure instance during the active BraveBot period, which can last up to 45 homework-reminder days or 12 weeks.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Digital Coach to Support Exposure Therapy Homework for Anxious Youth
At a glance
Conditions
NCT07666672
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 3 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed
McLean Hospital
Belmont, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Madelaine R Abel, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Massachusetts General Hospital
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Exposure Quality -- Effort (0-100)Immediately after each completed, randomized exposure instance during the active BraveBot period (up to 45 homework-reminder days, or the 12-week backstop).
Youth-reported effort put into the exposure, rated on a 0-100 slider after each completed randomized exposure instance. Minimum 0, maximum 100; higher scores indicate greater effort (better).
- Exposure Quality -- Perceived Capability (0-100)Immediately after each completed, randomized exposure instance during the active BraveBot period (up to 45 homework-reminder days, or the 12-week backstop).
Youth-reported sense of being capable to approach or handle anxiety-provoking situations, rated on a 0-100 slider after each completed randomized exposure instance. Minimum 0, maximum 100; higher scores indicate greater perceived capability (better).
- Exposure Quality -- Understanding (0-100)Immediately after each completed, randomized exposure instance during the active BraveBot period (up to 45 homework-reminder days, or the 12-week backstop).
Youth-reported understanding of what to do and why during the exposure, rated on a 0-100 slider after each completed randomized exposure instance. Minimum 0, maximum 100; higher scores indicate greater understanding (better).
- Exposure Quality -- Ability to Continue When Distressed (0-100)Immediately after each completed, randomized exposure instance during the active BraveBot period (up to 45 homework-reminder days, or the 12-week backstop).
Youth-reported ability to stay with the exposure when it was difficult or distressing, rated on a 0-100 slider after each completed randomized exposure instance. Minimum 0, maximum 100; higher scores indicate greater ability to continue (better).
- Exposure Quality -- Perceived Helpfulness (0-100)Immediately after each completed, randomized exposure instance during the active BraveBot period (up to 45 homework-reminder days, or the 12-week backstop).
Youth-reported helpfulness of the exposure in reducing anxiety, rated on a 0-100 slider after each completed randomized exposure instance. Minimum 0, maximum 100; higher scores indicate greater perceived helpfulness (better).