A guided chatbot-based psychological intervention for psychologically distressed older adolescents and young adults: a randomised clinical trial in Jordan - Takeaways - MDSpire

A guided chatbot-based psychological intervention for psychologically distressed older adolescents and young adults: a randomised clinical trial in Jordan

  • By

  • Richard A. Bryant

  • Anne M. de Graaff

  • Rand Habashneh

  • Sarah Fanatseh

  • Dharani Keyan

  • Aemal Akhtar

  • Adnan Abualhaija

  • Muhannad Faroun

  • Ibrahim Said Aqel

  • Latefa Dardas

  • Hadeel Afar

  • Chiara Servili

  • Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic

  • Mark van Ommeren

  • Kenneth Carswell

  • January 15, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    The STARS intervention, a rule-based chatbot, aims to reduce psychological distress in young adults in low-and middle-income countries.

  • 2

    In a trial with 344 participants, STARS showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression compared to enhanced usual care.

  • 3

    Participants in the STARS group reported a greater reduction in HSCL total scores, with a moderate effect size of 0.68.

  • 4

    68.6% of STARS participants achieved a good outcome, significantly higher than the 41.6% in the enhanced usual care group.

  • 5

    The study highlights the potential of digital interventions to address mental health treatment gaps in low-and middle-income countries.

Original Source(s)

A guided chatbot-based psychological intervention for psychologically distressed older adolescents and young adults: a randomised clinical trial in Jordan

  • by Richard A. Bryant, Anne M. de Graaff, Rand Habashneh, Sarah Fanatseh, Dharani Keyan, Aemal Akhtar, Adnan Abualhaija, Muhannad Faroun, Ibrahim Said Aqel, Latefa Dardas, Hadeel Afar, Chiara Servili, Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic, Mark van Ommeren, Kenneth Carswell

  • January 15, 2026

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