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Can a chatbot match therapy? trial pits AI against standard depression handouts

NCT ID NCT07841483

Symptom relief Sponsor: Slingshot AI Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 25, 2026

Summary

Researchers are testing whether Ash, an AI chat tool for mental health, reduces depression symptoms as well as standard written psychoeducation. The trial enrolls 500 US adults with at least moderate depressive symptoms who are new to the Ash app. One group gets free access to Ash for six months, while the other receives four weeks of structured psychoeducation booklets before gaining access. Participants complete online surveys about depression, anxiety, sleep, and stress at several points over 36 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Ash, a conversational AI mental health tool accessed through mobile and web apps
What this could lead to
If Ash works as well as therapy, it could offer a low-cost, always-available way for people with moderate depression to get support between or instead of clinical visits.
What could go wrong
This is a pilot trial, so even positive results would need confirmation in larger studies. An AI chat tool may not suit everyone, and some people could find it less helpful than talking with a trained therapist.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 500 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Sep 2026

Expected to finish

May 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years or older * Residents of the United States * New Ash users with active accounts at the time of recruitment * English-speaking * Able to provide informed consent * At screening: PHQ-9 total score \>= 10 (indicating at least moderate depressive symptoms) * During onboarding, indicated that they are willing to share their data and are interested in being contacted about and participating in research Exclusion Criteria: * Currently engaged in individual therapy or counseling * ASRM total score \>= 6 at screening (positive screen for mania) * PRIME-5 positive at screening, defined as \>= 1 item rated 6 (Definitely Agree) OR \>= 3 items rated 5 (Somewhat Agree) (positive screen for psychosis-spectrum symptoms) * Self-reported heavy episodic drinking at a frequency of weekly or more often on the NIAAA single-item alcohol screen (past 12 months) * Self-reported nonmedical drug use at a frequency of weekly or more often on the NIDA single-item substance use screen (past 12 months) * Any change to psychiatric medications in the 6 weeks prior to screening (any response other than "No changes to my meds in the past 6 weeks") * Currently in inpatient, residential, intensive outpatient (IOP), or partial hospitalization (PHP) mental health treatment * Suicidality - PHQ-9 item 9 score of 3 Special Populations: No minors are enrolled. Adults unable to consent are not enrolled. Pregnant women are not excluded. Prisoners are not targeted; the recruitment channel (an in-app prompt to consenting adult Ash users) is not anticipated to reach incarcerated populations, and prisoners will not be knowingly enrolled.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Depressive disorder Depressive symptoms

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Slingshot AI

    New York, New York, 10013, United States

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.