NCT07533331 Testing Conversational Agents as a Digital Companion
| NCT ID | NCT07533331 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Friendi.fi Corporation |
| Condition | Autism |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 38 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-03-21 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-09 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 38 participants in total. It began in 2026-03-21 with a primary completion date of 2026-09.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
There is a need and opportunity to improve the supports, transitions, and life outcomes of people with autism spectrum disorder. Compared to their neurotypical peers, autistic teenagers and adults report poorer mental health and quality of life and have higher rates of unemployment or underemployment and low participation in post-secondary education. Nearly 40% spend little or no time with friends. Although autism awareness has grown considerably in recent decades, much more can be done to improve the life outcomes for people with autism. Cost-effective, affordable and scalable support systems are needed as well as ongoing assessments and personalized support plans that focus on individual strengths and challenges in different contexts (college, work, community life) across the life span. This requires adaptive interventions and regular consultation with and between stakeholders. It also requires a rigorous approach to measuring outcomes that are not one-size-fits-all and do not expect everyone to reach, or have, the same goals. To meet these needs, the investigators leverage an already successful technology platform with two conversational-relational agents to be a digital companion and coach to autistic young adults (AYA, ages 18 to 35 years). The technology will be used to scale a strong theoretical and conceptual approach that has proven successful in meeting the individual needs and personalized outcomes of autistic students through a collaborative consultation model for promoting competency and success (COMPASS) combined with Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). To deliver personalized coaching, empathy, and outcomes at scale, GAS/COMPASS was translated into software-driven evidence-based coaching protocols in collaboration with clinical, academic, and community partners. In this study, the digital coaching program and all research protocols are pilot tested in a 10-week experiential trial with AYA.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * formal autism diagnosis per qualified professional. * holds a job, volunteers, or attends college/vocational school where they participate in regular course work, classrooms, settings. * drives or independently uses public transportation/ride share. * makes medical decisions and manages finances. * purchases groceries and cooks meals. * engages in leisure activities with peers. * reads and comprehends spoken and written English. * able to complete surveys and informed consent independently. * able and willing to identify a trusted informant (such as a good friend, parent proxy or mentor who knows them well) for additional context, if needed. (11) 24/7 access to a personal mobile phone with SMS text capability. Exclusion Criteria: * an intellectual disability. * serious mental illness requiring psychiatric evaluation, intervention or in-patient hospitalizations in the past month. * suicidal ideation or attempts in the past month. * diagnosed sleep disorder in the past month. * pregnancy. * planned absences that interfere with study participation.
Contact & Investigator
Chantal Kerssens, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Friendi.fi Corporation
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07533331 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 35 Years, studying Autism. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07533331 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07533331 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at chantal@friendi.fi for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07533331 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Bloomington, United States, Muncie, United States, Louisville, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07533331 clinical trial?
NCT07533331 is sponsored by Friendi.fi Corporation. The principal investigator is Chantal Kerssens, PhD at Friendi.fi Corporation. The trial plans to enroll 38 participants.