Researchers present a novel UXR methodology that combines Generative AI with psychological frameworks to design emotion regulation tools specifically for adults with ADHD. The approach integrates DBT, Self-Determination Theory, and behavioral modeling with AI-assisted analysis to create neuroinclusive digital mental health interventions, delivering ten actionable design cards grounded in empirical evidence.
This research addresses a critical gap in digital mental health design by combining user experience research methodology with AI-augmented analysis and established psychological frameworks. The work responds to limitations in existing interventions—many lack theoretical grounding, fail to accommodate neurodiversity, and don't bridge psychological science with practical design implementation. The methodology's significance lies in its attempt to systematize the integration of Generative AI as a co-analytical tool rather than a replacement for human expertise, using it to synthesize research, generate hypotheses, and articulate design solutions.
The approach builds on decades of psychological research in DBT and Self-Determination Theory, applying these frameworks through a structured four-stage process that grounds design decisions in behavioral science. This represents a broader industry trend toward human-centered AI applications in healthcare and mental wellness. The resulting ten UXR Play Cards translate theoretical mechanisms into actionable guidance for designers, potentially raising standards for how digital mental health tools are developed.
For the digital health and AI application sectors, this framework offers a replicable model for reducing bias in AI-assisted design and ensuring interventions genuinely serve neurodivergent populations. Rather than relying on generic AI outputs, the methodology emphasizes stakeholder-specific narratives and theory-informed guidance. This approach could influence how companies approach neuroinclusive product design across consumer applications, potentially creating competitive advantages for organizations that adopt rigorous UXR practices paired with AI tooling.
- →Combines Generative AI with established psychological theories (DBT, SDT, COM-B) to design ADHD emotion regulation tools
- →Introduces a four-stage, replicable UXR framework that reduces bias in AI-assisted mental health design
- →Produces ten actionable design cards translating psychological evidence into practical design guidance
- →Emphasizes neuroinclusive approaches and stakeholder-specific narratives rather than generic AI outputs
- →Demonstrates AI's role as co-analytical support tool alongside human-centered design methodology