The Efficacy of Robot-Assisted Intelligent Rehabilitation Treatment in Patients With AUD

A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol Testing the Efficacy of Robot-Assisted Intelligent Rehabilitation Treatment in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorders

We aimed to test the efficacy of robot-assisted intelligent rehabilitation treatment in patients with alcohol use disorders with a randomized controlled trial. Specifically, the objective of this trial is to determine whether the robot-assisted intelligent rehabilitation treatment plus treatment as usual has greater efficacy than traditional therapy in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Based on artificial intelligence technology, face recognition technology, and virtual reality technology to develop an available Robot-assisted rehabilitation intelligent system. Then, using this intelligent system as a new way of Psychotherapy to provide treatment for patients with alcohol use disorders, and compare with traditional treatment to verify the efficacy and safety of the Robot-assisted rehabilitation intelligent system in Chinese patients with alcohol use disorders.

Both groups will receive treatment as usual(TAU) provided by the clinical team, including medication, exercise, and psychotherapy. Robot-assisted intelligent rehabilitation treatment will be delivered to participants in the testing group through an addiction prevention and relapse intervention intelligent system.

Participants in the treatment-as-usual group were offered standard treatment at the mental health hospitals, which consisted of group and/or individual therapy, as determined by the clinical team.

Participants assigned to this condition were offered 10 individual sessions of robot-assisted rehabilitation treatment, delivered by the Robot-assisted rehabilitation intelligent system. The system contains 10 core cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) skill topics (such as functional analysis, coping skills training, reviewing practice exercises, and explaining CBT concepts). A robot therapist demonstrates the target CBT skills and assigns homework to participants. The treatment framework is semi-structured through human-computer interaction. The forms of interaction include inquiries, statements, recommendations summaries, and knowledge assessments.

Both groups will receive treatment as usual, including medication, exercise, and psychological education.

The secondary outcome includes participants' Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness, measured by the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale(SOCRATES).

The secondary outcome includes participants' level of impulsiveness, measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale(Barratt).

The secondary outcome includes the participants' level of anxiety, measured by generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7).

The secondary outcome includes the participants' level of depression, measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9).

The secondary outcome includes participants' perception of stress, measured by the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS).

The secondary outcome includes participants' sleep quality, measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI).

The secondary outcome includes participants' coping style, measured by Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire(SCSQ).

Inclusion Criteria: Between the ages of 18-55; Meeting DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorders; Withdrawing alcohol for less than 12 months; Ability to use computers; Signing informed consent; Exclusion Criteria: Having comorbidities of other neuropsychiatric diseases; Diseases that affect cognitive function, such as a history of head trauma, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, etc. With a family history of mental illness Not familiar with computer operation, unable to complete assessment and treatment.