AI-Based CBT Chatbot for Adolescent Social Anxiety

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a CBT-based AI chatbot works to reduce social anxiety in teenagers. It will also look at how the chatbot works, including changes in thinking patterns, emotion management, and safety behaviors. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the AI-CBT chatbot lower social anxiety symptoms in teenagers? Do changes in cognitive biases, emotion regulation, and safety behaviors explain why the chatbot works? Researchers will compare the AI-CBT group to a waitlist group to see if the chatbot works to reduce social anxiety. Participants will: Use the AI-CBT chatbot to complete one module every 3 days, for a total of 6 modules. Complete questionnaires before the intervention, after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention. Be on a waitlist and receive no intervention during the study period, then be offered the chatbot after the study ends.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 10 and 19 years old * Meets screening cutoff for social anxiety symptoms, defined as SIAS-6 score ≥ 7 or SPS-6 score ≥ 2 * Fluent in Mandarin Chinese * Has basic ability to use a smartphone or computer * Provides assent and written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of suicide risk, defined as active suicidal ideation with intent or plan, or previous suicide attempt within the past 6 months * Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder * Received systematic CBT for any condition within the past 3 months