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Symposia

Adult -ADHD

Advancing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD in Japan: Innovations and Cultural Adaptations

3 - (SYM (9) A Case Study of an AI Chatbot-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Self-guided App

Friday, November 21, 2025
3:48 PM - 4:09 PM CST
Location: Celestin F, Level 3
Keywords: ADHD, Adult, Culture
Recommended Readings: Safren, S. A., Otto, M. W., Sprich, S., Winett, C. L., Wilens, T. E., & Biederman, J. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(7), 831–842.,   Ramsay, J. R., & Rostain, A. L.(2014). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: An Integrative Psychosocial and Medical Approach (English Edition), Routledge,   Knouse, L. E., Hu, X., Sachs, G., & Isaacs, S. (2022). Usability and feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral mobile app for ADHD in adults. PLOS Digital Health, 1(8),   Takamatsu, N., Nakashima, M., Matsuura, K., Umemoto, I., Ito, M., Kanazawa, J., Tomiyama, H., Kondo, M., Tachimori, H., Nakao, T., Horikoshi, M., & Kuga, H. (2024). A multicenter, single-group, open feasibility study of a new individual cognitive behavioral therapy program for adult Japanese patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A study protocol. Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Reports, 3.,  
Abstract Body

In Japan, despite advances in mental health care, many individuals remain hesitant to seek professional support. To address this gap, Emol Inc. has developed an AI chatbot-based self-help application grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), aimed at enhancing mental health care across prevention, treatment, and diagnosis.

Building on previous initiatives—including a therapeutic app for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and a randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrating the efficacy of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based self-help program in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms—we are now expanding our digital therapeutics to adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent advances in digital mental health and developmental disorder interventions underscore the potential of such technologies.

This project transforms traditional face-to-face CBT programs into a self-guided digital intervention tailored specifically for adult ADHD. The app employs an AI chatbot to facilitate structured CBT worksheets through interactive dialogue. Importantly, cultural adaptations—such as narrative-driven interactions and visually engaging, character-based designs—have been integrated to reflect Japan’s unique communication style and aesthetic preferences, thereby enhancing user engagement and acceptance.

A pilot study is planned to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the app. During a structured intervention period, participants will engage with various CBT modules, with usability, engagement, and improvements in ADHD-related symptoms assessed using established measures.

Looking ahead, our goal is to obtain regulatory approval and insurance coverage in Japan, targeting practical implementation by 2030. This presentation will discuss real-world applications of AI chatbot-based CBT self-help technology, address challenges in digital mental health implementation, and explore the transformative potential of culturally adapted digital therapeutics in the treatment of adult ADHD.