Virtual agents among participants with methamphetamine use disorders: Acceptability and usability study

Abstract

Introduction While the potential future role of virtual agents (VAs) in treating addiction is promising, participants’ attitudes toward the use of VAs in psychotherapy remain insufficiently investigated. This lack of investigation could pose barriers to the adoption of VA-led psychotherapy for people with substance use disorders (SUD). This research aims to explore the acceptability and usability of VAs for people with methamphetamine use disorder. Methods Following a single session of psychotherapy led by VAs through the Echo-app, a group of 49 individuals actively seeking treatment for current DSM-V substance dependence (with a mean age of 39.06 ± 8.02) completed self-administered questionnaires and participated in focus group interviews. These questionnaires aimed to investigate participants’ preference regarding the type of psychotherapy and their willingness to engage in VA-led psychotherapy, taking into account their diverse psychological needs. Results Quantitative data were subjected to analysis through both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Interestingly, participants exhibited a significantly higher acceptability for traditional face-to-face psychotherapy compared to email-based psychotherapy ( p = 0.042), but there was no statistically significant difference between their acceptance of traditional psychotherapy and VA-led psychotherapy ( p = 0.059). The questionnaire outcomes indicated participants’ willingness to engage in VA-led psychotherapy for purposes such as relapse prevention intervention, addressing emotional issues, managing somatic experiences, and facilitating social and family functional recovery. Furthermore, the participants’ attitudes toward VA-led psychotherapy were predicted by factors including the need for anxiety-focused psychotherapy ( p = 0.027; OR [95%CI] = 0.14[0.03,0.80]), the presence of chronic somatic diseases ( p = 0.017; OR [95%CI] = 13.58[1.59,116.03]), and marital status ( p = 0.031; OR [95%CI] = 5.02[1.16,21.79]). Discussion Through the interviews, the study uncovered the factors that either supported or hindered participants’ experiences with VA-led psychotherapy, while also gathering suggestions for future improvements. This research highlights the willingness and practicality of individuals with SUD in embracing VA-led psychotherapy. The findings are anticipated to contribute to the refinement of VA-led tools to better align with the preferences and needs of the users.