Improving the Well-being of Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study Exploring Acceptability and Clinical Usability of a Self-compassion Chatbot.

Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) had already experienced far greater rates of psychological distress than their peers. With the pandemic further challenging mental health and increasing the barriers to maintaining optimal diabetes self-management, it is vital that this population has access to remotely deliverable, evidence-based interventions to improve psychological and diabetes outcomes. Chatbots, defined as digital conversational agents, offer these unique advantages, as well as the ability to engage in empathetic and personalized conversations 24-7.

When symptoms become side effects: Development of the side effect attribution scale (SEAS).

Objectives: Symptom misattribution is a central process in the nocebo effect but it is not accurately assessed in current side effect measures. We have developed a new measure, the Side Effect Attribution Scale (SEAS), which examines the degree to which people believe their symptoms are treatment side effects.

Methods: The SEAS was tested in three New Zealand studies: a vaccination sample (n = 225), patients with gout or rheumatoid arthritis (n = 102), and patients switching to a generic medicine (n = 69).