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Symposium

Artificial Intelligence and Technology-based Interventions
Symposium

Symposium 32 - Is digital CBT a realistic option to make evidence-based intervention more accessible and equitable?

Friday, June 26, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PDT
Location: Yerba Buena Salon 10, B3 Level
CE: 1

Keywords: Technology / Mobile Health, CBT ,
Level of Familiarity: Basic to Moderate
Recommended Readings: Lehtimaki, S., Martic, J., Wahl, B., Foster, K. T., & Schwalbe, N. (2021). Evidence on Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents and Young People: Systematic Overview [Review]. JMIR Ment Health, 8(4), e25847. https://doi.org/10.2196/25847,   Jardine, J., Earley, C., Richards, D., Timulak, L., Palacios, J. E., Duffy, D., Tierney, K., & Doherty, G. (2020, 2020). The Experience of Guided Online Therapy: A Longitudinal, Qualitative Analysis of Client Feedback in a Naturalistic RCT.,   Palacios, J. E., Enrique, A., Mooney, O., Farrell, S., Earley, C., Duffy, D., Eilert, N., Harty, S., Timulak, L., & Richards, D. (2022). Durability of treatment effects following internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for depression and anxiety delivered within a routine care setting [https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2743]. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2743,   ,  

Digital therapy programs are often highlighted as a potential solution to the gap between available mental health providers and need for mental health services. These programs vary in terms of focus, approach, and clinician involvement; studies suggest the best outcomes come from programs based in cognitive behavioral principles that include clinician facilitation. Young people may benefit the most – they are comfortable with technology and computer-mediated communication and spend a significant amount of their time online.

Before digital programs can make a real impact on the treatment gap, certain conditions must be met. For example, engagement is crucial to the success of any digital program; cultural sensitivity and relatability strongly influence engagement, but the degree to which these are prioritized in the development of digital programs varies. Additionally, the program must be cost effective. Particularly to benefit young people whose access to traditional services is low, these programs must have a minimal entry cost and enable providers to recoup value invested in deploying it.
To investigate the real potential for digital CBT to have a meaningful mental health impact, we will present studies exploring the relatability, cultural sensitivity, and cost effectiveness of these programs.

Dr. Willis will present results from a culturally tailored AI chatbot deployed to provide psychoeducation and coping strategies with the goal of mitigating the impact of general and racism-related stress on the mental health of Black young adults.’

Dr. Nadeem will present the mixed methods results of a trial to evaluate engagement and associated benefits of a digital CBT program for adolescents. Result show that many young people liked the program, engaged consistently, and saw marked declines in their symptoms, but that engagement was uneven and some people did not use or benefit from the program.

Dr. Zainal will present a cost effectiveness analysis of a coached digital CBT program used with over 6000 college students. Results indicate that relative to treatment as usual, dCBT is effective at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life at a price that users are willing to pay.

Together these presentations will summarize research that is essential to maximizing the impact of digital mental health tools and ensuring that the vulnerable young people who most need novel treatment approaches have tools that are accessible, culturally sensitive, and relatable.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe how a culturally tailored AI chatbot can be utilized to mitigate the impact of general and racism-related stress on Black young adults.
  • Explain program characteristics important to the success of digital CBT with adolescents.
  • Interpret cost-utility analyses of digital mental health interventions across multiple time horizons and threshold values.

Presentations:

  • 4:05 PM - 4:23 PM PDT
    (SYM 32) Is Digital CBT an Affirming and Beneficial Treatment Option for Diverse Adolescents?

    Speaker: Erum Nadeem, Ph.D. – Rutgers University

    Co-Author: Anna Van Meter, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – NYU Grossmand School of Medicine

    Co-Author: Rena Ferrara, B.S. – Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Medical Center

    Co-Author: Archisha Murthy, MA – Rutgers University

    Co-Author: Mahek Patel, MA – Rutgers University

    Co-Author: Pooja Patel, MA – Rutgers University

  • 4:23 PM - 4:41 PM PDT
    (SYM 32) Helping Black Youth and Young Adults Cope with Racism-related Stress Using Ai/mhealth

    Speaker: Henry Artez Willis, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Maryland- College Park

    Co-Author: Bunmi Odubayo, B.A. – University of Maryland- College Park

    Co-Author: Colin Roberts, BS (he/him/his) – University of Maryland, College Park

    Co-Author: Timothy Simmons, B.A. – University of Maryland- College Park

  • 4:41 PM - 5:00 PM PDT
    (SYM 32) When Does Digital Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (d-GCBT) Pay Off? A 2-year Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Coach-supported D-gcbt in a Large Randomized Trial

    Speaker: Nur Hani Zainal, M.S., Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – National University of Singapore

    Co-Author: Daniel Eisenberg, Ph.D. – UCLA

    Co-Author: Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ph.D. – Washington University in St. Louis

    Co-Author: Elsa Rojas-Ashe, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Stanford University

    Co-Author: Craig Barr Taylor, M.D. – Stanford University

    Co-Author: Denise E. Wilfley, Ph.D. – Washington University School of Medicine

    Co-Author: Michelle G. Newman, B.S., M.A., Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – The Pennsylvania State University