Aurora is an interdisciplinary project evaluating a chatbot-mediated supportive care intervention designed to promote emotional expression, autobiographical meaning-making, identity processes, and emotional well-being through guided narrative reconstruction. The Aurora system provides a structured, person-centered storytelling process supported by generative AI and human facilitation. Under the supervision of a trained facilitator (licensed mental health professional), participants engage in guided reminiscence and storytelling sessions to co-create a personalized "life book." The chatbot is not a diagnostic or treatment tool; rather, it is intended to support emotional expression, narrative reconstruction, and recovery-oriented processes. The study includes three non-randomized arms implemented sequentially: (1) a single-session arm of healthy adults focused on acceptability, usability, and emotional safety; (2) a four-hour intervention arm of adults with DSM-5 diagnosed mental disorders in residential care; and (3) a four-hour intervention arm of healthy older adults aged 65 years and older. Quantitative outcomes assess affect, mental well-being, and recovery-related constructs. Additional measures include usability, satisfaction, and qualitative feedback. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is conducted in Arms 2 and 3.
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chatbot-mediated supportive care intervention
BehavioralAurora is a guided narrative reconstruction chatbot combining structured storytelling and reminiscence with an AI-based conversational system and support from a trained facilitator. Participants co-create a personalized life narrative ("life book") with written content and optional audio contributions (with explicit consent). Sessions occur in a secure professional environment and are supervised by licensed mental health professionals to ensure emotional safety. Aurora is not a diagnostic tool and is intended to promote emotional expression, recovery-oriented processes, and emotional well-being. The intervention is delivered in structured guided sessions. Arm 1 receives a single-session version for refinement and usability assessment, whereas Arms 2 and 3 receive a 4-hour intervention delivered over two weeks. The total intervention dose is equivalent across Arms 2 and 3. Session structure differs to accommodate participant characteristics.
Positive Affect (I-PANAS-SF - Positive Affect subscale-pre-post session change)
Positive affect will be assessed using the Positive Affect (PA) subscale of the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (I-PANAS-SF). Participants will rate their affect "right now." The endpoint is the change in PA from immediately before to immediately after each session across all treatment arms. Higher scores indicate higher positive affect.
Negative Affect (I-PANAS-SF - Negative Affect subscale - pre-post session change)
Negative affect will be assessed using the Negative Affect (NA) subscale of the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (I-PANAS-SF). Participants will rate their affect "right now." The endpoint is the change in NA from immediately before to immediately after each session across all treatment arms. Higher scores indicate higher negative affect.
Positive Affect (I-PANAS-SF - Positive Affect subscale - baseline to 1-week follow-up change)
Positive affect will be assessed using the Positive Affect (PA) subscale of the I-PANAS-SF. Participants will rate their affect "over the past week." The endpoint is the change in PA from baseline to immediately post-intervention in Arms 2 and 3. Higher scores indicate higher positive affect.
Negative Affect (I-PANAS-SF - baseline to 1-week follow-up change)
Negative affect will be assessed using the Negative Affect (NA) subscale of the I-PANAS-SF, adapted to assess affect over the past week. The endpoint is the change in NA from baseline (pre-intervention) to 1-week follow-up after completion of the intervention in Arms 2 and 3. Higher scores indicate higher negative affect.
Mental well-being (WEMWBS)
Mental well-being will be assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS; total score). Higher scores indicate greater mental well-being. The endpoint is change from baseline at 1 week after end of intervention in Arms 2 and 3.
Recovery-related outcomes aligned with CHIME framework
Recovery-related outcomes will be assessed using an ad hoc self-report measure aligned with the CHIME framework. The measure includes six constructs (3 items each): social connectedness, hope, self-concept clarity, valued living, general self-efficacy, and self-esteem. A total composite score will be computed. Higher scores indicate more favorable recovery-related outcomes. The endpoint is the change from baseline (pre-intervention) to 1-week follow-up after completion of the intervention in Arms 2 and 3.
Usability (System Usability Scale, SUS)
Usability will be assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS). The SUS is a 10-item self-report measure of perceived usability. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better perceived usability. In Arm 1, the SUS will be administered immediately after the single session. In Arms 2 and 3, the SUS will be administered at follow-up, 1 week after the end of the intervention.
User experience and satisfaction
User experience and satisfaction will be assessed using study-specific self-report items covering expectations, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction/opinion. In Arm 1, this measure will be administered immediately after the single session. In Arms 2 and 3, it will be administered at follow-up, 1 week after the end of the intervention.
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) will be conducted in Arms 2 and 3. Participants will complete brief assessments twice daily across three predefined periods: (1) a 1-week pre-intervention baseline period, (2) the 2-week intervention period, and (3) a 1-week post-intervention follow-up period. EMA will include brief momentary items assessing affect, valued action, self-efficacy/empowerment, connectedness/hope, and psychological flexibility, capturing real-time (momentary) experiences.
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Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Lead sponsor
Grup ATRA
Collaborator
AGAUR
Collaborator
Institut Municipal de Persones amb Discapacitat
Collaborator
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
Collaborator
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Collaborator
