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

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是它有可能改善解决儿童注意力缺陷/多动障碍（ADHD）的方法，这种疾病影响了10%的美国儿童。家庭面临的主要挑战是获得心理治疗，这是全面护理的一个重要组成部分。由于各种障碍，包括费用，时间和心理健康专业人员短缺，许多家庭无法获得这些干预措施。这个项目介绍了一个自我指导，以家庭为中心的多动症治疗移动的应用程序，辅以虚拟教练。通过解决护理人员的压力，这在治疗结果中起着重要作用，这项创新提供了一个可扩展的，负担得起的，有效的解决方案。这项倡议符合国家科学基金会的使命，以促进科学进步和支持美国公众的福祉，特别是在当前的青年心理健康危机。该项目的潜在商业和社会影响包括提高对ADHD治疗的科学理解，在数字健康领域提供竞争优势，并解决精神卫生保健的重大市场机会。 这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目利用人工智能（AI）和大型语言模型（LLMS）为儿科ADHD创建一个可扩展的，可访问的和强大的以儿童为中心的移动的治疗系统，并辅以虚拟教练。创新方面在于将以人为本的设计与基于规则的对话AI和移情聊天机器人相结合，旨在对ADHD儿童的照顾者产生持久的、可扩展的影响。其目的是扩大循证心理社会干预的可及性，提高对这些治疗的依从性，并实现上级结果。ADHD是一种阻碍自我调节和执行功能的疾病，影响了很大一部分美国儿童。尽管早期干预的好处众所周知，许多受影响的儿童没有得到最佳的照顾。该项目的目标包括应用程序的共同设计，其中包含多模块心理社会干预和护理人员应对技术;使用人工智能在临床医生指导下开发虚拟教练的角色;以及涉及护理人员的概念验证测试。该项目将评估可行性和可接受性，并收集有关护理人员和儿童福利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知识价值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.