AI reads social media posts to spot suicide risk in skin cancer patients
NCT ID NCT07670403
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study enrolled 500 skin cancer patients in China and analyzed over 1.2 million of their social media posts using artificial intelligence. The goal was to see if AI could detect signs of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. Researchers hope this approach could lead to an early warning system for mental health crises in cancer patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to an AI tool that helps doctors spot mental health crises in skin cancer patients earlier, potentially saving lives.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. The AI model may not work well in other languages or cultures, and privacy concerns around social media data are significant.
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.
- Participants
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500 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Finished
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Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Skin cancer patients experience high rates of anxiety and depression, yet routine screening is inconsistent. This study collects social media content from 500 patients over 24 months (12 months retrospective + 12 months prospective).
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: 1. Age ≥ 18 years 2. Histologically confirmed skin cancer within the preceding 60 months 3. Active user of at least one target social media platform (Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, or WeChat Channels) 4. Willingness to provide informed consent for social media data collection 5. Ability to read and write in Chinese Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pre-existing major psychiatric disorder diagnosed prior to cancer diagnosis 2. Cognitive impairment preventing informed consent 3. Inability to access social media accounts 4. Concurrent participation in other digital mental health interventions
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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
Locations
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West China Hospital of Sichuan University
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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