Social Assistive Robotics to Motivate Cognitive Training in Patients with Chronic Depression

Approximately 280 million people in the world suffer from depression, which can become chronic and often leads to cognitive problems. International literature shows that depression is known as one of the 12 main modifiable risk factors for dementia, and therefore, cognitive training is essential to foster cognition and to reduce the risk for dementia. In the last years new technologies, like robots, have been developed to support health care professionals with limited resources in their daily practice. The aim of the Austrian project AMIGA is to develop and test a gender‐sensitive and customizable Social Assisting Robotic Technology (SAR) including a cognitive training to enhance cognition and to improve the quality of life of people with chronic depression in psychiatric hospitals. Method In the first step of the project, the requirements of the target group will be determined using qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g. survey, interviews). Based on the results, the interactive SAR prototype will be developed which will use human‐robot interactions to motivate users to perform cognitive training with the BRAINMEE‐App on a daily basis. Target group‐specific as well as gender‐sensitive content for holistic stimulation with visual, auditory and interactive elements will be included. The prototype will then be tested in a usability study with 12 end users including patients to revise the robot. At the end, a randomized controlled trial with additional interviews including 60 patients will be conducted to test the final robotic platform. Result At the conference, the first results of the project will be presented. Conclusion AMIGA is the first project to investigate, on a scientific basis using neuropsychological theories, care requirements and human factor measurement technologies, the fundamental design parameters for interactions with social robotics, which contribute to increasing motivation for cognitive training, to efficiently relieve stress and strengthen the resilience of patients with depression during training. AMIGA, as a research prototype, will lay the foundation for future system developments that provide motivational support for improved adherence to training activities in the mental health care field, which includes depression and other mental illnesses, like dementia and further brain‐related disorders as well as learning disorders.