Evaluation of an avatar-based training program to promote suicide prevention awareness in a college setting

Rein, Benjamin; McNeil, Daniel W.; Hayes, Allison; Hawkins, T. Anne; Ng, Hawkins; Yura, Catherine A.

doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1432626

Cited by 34 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…One possible explanation for under-utilization of mental healthcare by ethnic minority students is that they are more likely to perceive negative judgment from family, friends, and others as a treatment barrier than are their Caucasian peers [ 23 , 47 ]. One particular TMH intervention, Kognito, is a virtual program for students and faculty that trains participants in suicide prevention through a series of simulated human animations [ 48 ]. After undergoing the training, not only did participants feel better able to identify and assist people at risk of suicide, but they also reported increased willingness to seek treatment for themselves [ 49 ].…”

Section: Perceived Advantages Of Tmhmentioning

confidence: 99%

College Student Perspectives of Telemental Health: a Review of the Recent Literature

Hadler

Winkler

et al. 2021

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Section: Perceived Advantages Of Tmhmentioning

confidence: 99%

College Student Perspectives of Telemental Health: a Review of the Recent Literature

Hadler

Winkler

et al. 2021

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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“…‘Avatar coaches’ have also been employed as part of an immersive virtual reality situation for treating the fear of heights [27] or as ‘virtual patients’ to provide medical students with lifelike interviewing practice [28]. Finally, avatars are also being implemented in risk prevention education, such as the Kognito program, which uses an avatar to help college students and faculty identify others at risk for suicide [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Your Robot Therapist Will See You Now: Ethical Implications of Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy

Fiske¹,

Henningsen²,

Buyx³

2019

J Med Internet Res

424

215

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Background Research in embodied artificial intelligence (AI) has increasing clinical relevance for therapeutic applications in mental health services. With innovations ranging from ‘virtual psychotherapists’ to social robots in dementia care and autism disorder, to robots for sexual disorders, artificially intelligent virtual and robotic agents are increasingly taking on high-level therapeutic interventions that used to be offered exclusively by highly trained, skilled health professionals. In order to enable responsible clinical implementation, ethical and social implications of the increasing use of embodied AI in mental health need to be identified and addressed. Objective This paper assesses the ethical and social implications of translating embodied AI applications into mental health care across the fields of Psychiatry, Psychology and Psychotherapy. Building on this analysis, it develops a set of preliminary recommendations on how to address ethical and social challenges in current and future applications of embodied AI. Methods Based on a thematic literature search and established principles of medical ethics, an analysis of the ethical and social aspects of currently embodied AI applications was conducted across the fields of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy. To enable a comprehensive evaluation, the analysis was structured around the following three steps: assessment of potential benefits; analysis of overarching ethical issues and concerns; discussion of specific ethical and social issues of the interventions. Results From an ethical perspective, important benefits of embodied AI applications in mental health include new modes of treatment, opportunities to engage hard-to-reach populations, better patient response, and freeing up time for physicians. Overarching ethical issues and concerns include: harm prevention and various questions of data ethics; a lack of guidance on development of AI applications, their clinical integration and training of health professionals; ‘gaps’ in ethical and regulatory frameworks; the potential for misuse including using the technologies to replace established services, thereby potentially exacerbating existing health inequalities. Specific challenges identified and discussed in the application of embodied AI include: matters of risk-assessment, referrals, and supervision; the need to respect and protect patient autonomy; the role of non-human therapy; transparency in the use of algorithms; and specific concerns regarding long-term effects of these applications on understandings of illness and the human condition. Conclusions We argue that embodied AI is a promising approach across the field of mental health; however, further research is needed to address the broader ethical and societal concerns of these technologies to negotiate best research and medical practices in innovative mental health care. We conclude by indicating areas o...

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“…In summary, this set of studies shows promising results but is limited by lack of a control group, and high attrition (probably 85%–90%), with the exception of Rein et al. (). With this level of attrition, it is unlikely that the study participants are representative of most Kognito trainees.…”

mentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Of the known studies of Kognito suicide prevention trainings, two were also conducted independently of Kognito, Rein et al. () and Jodoin (). To date, the findings of the independent studies converge with those conducted by Kognito.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rein et al. () conducted a large one group pre‐ and postevaluation of faculty and students (N = 2,727) that included 1,124 students who completed the basic Kognito module (others did specialized modules focusing on LGBT or veterans). Retention at follow‐up was good (61%), perhaps due to some participants completing Kognito as part of mandatory curricular elements and others receiving incentives.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kognito's Avatar‐Based Suicide Prevention Training for College Students: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial and a Naturalistic Evaluation

Coleman

Black

et al. 2019

Suicide & Life Threat Behav

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Objective To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of Kognito At Risk for College Students, an online, interactive suicide prevention gatekeeper training. Methods In Study 1, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of Kognito. Retention of participants at follow‐up was strong. In Study 2, administrative records were used to follow the help‐seeking behavior of Kognito trainees for one academic year, contrasted with untrained students. Results In Study 1, between‐group changes in gatekeeper attitudes were large at time‐two, but attenuated modestly by 2‐month follow‐up. Kognito trainees referred more peers at 2‐month follow‐up (Cohen's d = .56, p < .05) ‐ training 4 students in Kognito produces 1 more peer referred. In Study 2, the help‐seeking rate of Kognito trainees (14.4%) was two‐times the rate (6.8%) of untrained students (p < .001). Training 14 students in Kognito leads to 1 more self‐referral to the Counseling Center. Conclusions This first randomized controlled trial of the college student version of Kognito validates the findings of less rigorous studies. Few brief suicide prevention trainings have shown changes in trainee behaviors such as referrals of at‐risk peers and trainees actual help‐seeking behavior. These results are promising that Kognito may outperform other similar suicide prevention trainings.

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Evaluation of an avatar-based training program to promote suicide prevention awareness in a college setting

Abstract: Kognito training appears to be effective, on a large scale, in educating users to act in a facilitative role for at-risk college students.

Cited by 34 publications

References 8 publications

College Student Perspectives of Telemental Health: a Review of the Recent Literature

College Student Perspectives of Telemental Health: a Review of the Recent Literature

Your Robot Therapist Will See You Now: Ethical Implications of Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychotherapy

Kognito's Avatar‐Based Suicide Prevention Training for College Students: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial and a Naturalistic Evaluation

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