SBIR Phase I: A novel caregiver-centered mobile app and artificial intelligence (AI) coaching intervention for pediatric Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛/更广泛的商业影响是，它有可能改进解决儿童注意力缺陷/多动障碍(ADHD)的方法，ADHD是一种影响10%的美国儿童的疾病。家庭面临的主要挑战是获得心理社会治疗，这是全面护理的关键组成部分。由于各种障碍，包括成本、时间和缺乏心理健康专业人员，许多家庭无法获得这些干预措施。该项目介绍了一种以家庭为中心的自我指导的ADHD治疗移动应用程序，并辅之以虚拟教练。通过解决在治疗结果中起重要作用的照顾者压力，这项创新提供了可扩展、负担得起和有效的解决方案。这一倡议与国家科学基金会的使命相一致，即促进科学进步和支持美国公众的福祉，特别是在当前青年心理健康危机期间。该项目的潜在商业和社会影响包括加强对ADHD治疗的科学理解，在数字卫生部门提供竞争优势，以及解决精神卫生保健领域的重大市场机会。该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目利用人工智能(AI)和大型语言模型(LLMS)为儿童ADHD创建可扩展、可访问且强大的以照顾者为中心的移动治疗系统，并辅之以虚拟教练。创新方面在于将以人为中心的设计与基于规则的对话式人工智能和具有同理心的聊天机器人相结合，旨在对ADHD儿童的照顾者产生持久、可扩展的影响。其目的是扩大获得循证心理社会干预的途径，提高对这些治疗的依从性，并取得更好的结果。ADHD是一种阻碍自我调节和执行功能的疾病，影响着很大一部分美国儿童。尽管已知早期干预的好处，但许多受影响的儿童没有得到最佳护理。该项目的目标包括联合设计这款应用程序，其中包括多模块心理社会干预和护理者应对技术；利用人工智能开发虚拟教练的角色，指导临床医生；以及涉及护理者的概念验证测试。该项目将评估可行性和可接受性，并收集有关照顾者和儿童福祉潜在改善的初步数据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is its potential to improve approaches addressing pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition affecting 10 percent of all U.S. children. The primary challenge families face is accessing psychosocial treatment, a crucial component of comprehensive care. Many families cannot access these interventions due to various barriers including cost, time, and a shortage of mental health professionals. This project introduces a self-guided, family-focused ADHD treatment mobile application complemented by a virtual coach. By addressing caregiver stress, which plays a significant role in treatment outcomes, this innovation offers a scalable, affordable, and effective solution. This initiative aligns with the National Science Foundation's mission to promote scientific progress and support the well-being of the American public, especially during the current youth mental health crisis. The potential commercial and societal impacts of this project include enhancing scientific understanding of ADHD treatment, providing a competitive advantage in the digital health sector, and addressing a significant market opportunity in mental health care. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMS) to create a scalable, accessible, and robust caregiver-centered mobile treatment system for pediatric ADHD, complemented by a virtual coach. The innovative aspect lies in merging human-centered design with rules-based conversational AI and an empathetic chatbot, aiming for a lasting, scalable impact on caregivers of children with ADHD. The intent is to broaden access to evidence-based psychosocial interventions, improve adherence to these treatments, and achieve superior outcomes. ADHD, a condition that hinders self-regulation and executive function, affects a significant portion of U.S. children. Despite the known advantages of early intervention, many affected children do not receive optimal care. The project's objectives include the co-design of the app, which incorporates a multi-module psychosocial intervention and caregiver coping techniques; the development of the virtual coach's role with clinician guidance using AI; and a proof-of-concept test involving caregivers. The project will assess feasibility and acceptability, and gather preliminary data on potential improvements in caregiver and child wellbeing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.