AI chatbot aims to spark joy in people with anhedonia
NCT ID NCT07665242
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a chatbot that uses motivational interviewing can improve how people with anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure) respond to social rewards. Eighty college students with elevated depression and anhedonia will interact with the chatbot regularly over a period, and brain scans will measure changes in how their brains anticipate social and monetary rewards. The goal is to see if this low-cost digital tool can help re-engage reward-seeking behavior.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Motivational Interviewing chatbot
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a low-cost digital tool to help people with anhedonia engage more with social rewards.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study in healthy college students, so results may not apply to broader populations. The intervention is brief and behavioral, so any benefits may be modest or short-lived.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
RECRUITINGChengdu, Sichuan, China