Use of a Generative AI (Gen-AI) Chatbot for Anxiety and Depression Among Persons With Cannabis Use

Participants will complete a two-stage screening process via REDCap to determine their eligibility for enrollment. Participants who meet criteria and provide informed consent will be enrolled and participate in three interviews and the 4-week clinical trial.

After the first interview, researchers will fine-tune Therabot-CALM based on feedback received during the interview. After the second interview, experts by experience (EBEs) will engage with Therabot-CALM at least once per day for 4 weeks. After the clinical trial period, participants will receive an email with a link to complete the post-intervention measures delivered via REDCap, including the System Usability Scale (SUS), Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale (TAAS), Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test - Revised (CUDIT-R), the Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory (DFAQ-CU), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire for depression (PHQ-9), and the 7-item generalized anxiety disorder screener for DSM-5 (GAD-7). Participants will then be asked to return for a third interview to provide feedback on their experience with Therabot-CALM.

Researchers will use the IDEAS (Innovate, Develop, Evaluate, Adapt, Scale) Impact Framework to plan and conduct three, one-on-one interviews with a trained research assistant (RA). Each interview script will be developed using the IDEAS Impact Framework and follow a semi-structured design, such that the RA will follow a set of questions, with as-needed probing for follow-up. Interviews will be recorded via a virtual platform.

Inclusion criteria

• Is 18 years or older.
• Meet criteria for current CUD (CUDIT-R>=12) and MDD (PHQ-9>=10), and/or GAD (GAD-7>=10).
• Have reliable access to the internet and a compatible device for Therabot-CALM.
• Have willingness and capacity to provide informed consent and commit to participating in all assessments and interventions during the study.
• Attend the first interview.

Exclusion criteria

• Moderate to High risk of STBs as determined by the C-SSRS or baseline questionnaires.
• Current psychosis (as determined by brief psychosis screen).
• Current participation in another digital mental health intervention.