A Validation Study of the Neuro-cognitive Emotion Monitoring-Intervention (NEMO-I) Application in Adolescents

NCT07700264 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: SWU-2605-004RS-2022-KH126068
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the validity and effectiveness of NEMO-I (Neuro-cognitive Emotion Monitoring-Intervention), a mobile application designed to help adolescents monitor and manage their cognitive and emotional functioning in everyday settings. NEMO-I delivers evidence-based psychological techniques-such as mindfulness, self-regulation training, and emotion monitoring-in a gamified format consisting of seven brief activities that users can complete at home in about 10 minutes each. A total of 140 middle and high school students will participate. Participants will complete standardized neuropsychological and psychological assessments before and after the intervention period. During the 21-day intervention period, participants will use the NEMO-I application at home each day at their convenience (a minimum of 10 minutes per day is recommended). By comparing pre- and post-intervention assessment results, this study seeks to determine whether the application produces meaningful benefits for adolescent mental health and to establish its suitability as a digital mental health tool.

Conditions

Adolescent Mental Health; Adolescent - Emotional Problem; Cognition Improvement

Keywords

Digital mental health intervention; adolescents; mobile based intervention; emotion; cognitive function; NEMO-I

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Change in depressive symptoms

  Depressive symptoms are measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), a 21-item self-report questionnaire. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. Change is assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention scores.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in inhibitory control (Color-Word Stroop Test, CWST)

  Inhibitory control is assessed using the Color-Word Stroop Test (CWST), which measures the efficiency of the frontal-lobe inhibition process. Performance is indexed by response time and error rate under the color-word interference condition. Change is assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention performance.

  Baseline(pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in anxiety symptoms

  Anxiety symptoms are measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), a 21-item self-report questionnaire assessing the severity of anxiety-related symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. Change is assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention scores.

  Baseline(pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in neuro-cognitive and emotional function (NEMO-A)

  Neuro-cognitive and emotional function is assessed using the NEMO-A (Neuro-cognitive Emotion Monitoring-Assessment) application, a tablet-based, game-format assessment consisting of five subtasks. It measures domains including sustained attention, working memory, emotional sensitivity, emotion processing and recognition, audiovisual emotional integration, cognitive control, and executive function. Performance is indexed by accuracy and response time, and change is assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention performance.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in visual attention and processing speed (Children's Color Trails Test, CCTT)

  Visual attention, psychomotor speed, sequential processing, and divided/sustained visual attention are assessed using the Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT). Performance is indexed by completion time (seconds). Change is assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention performance.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in set-shifting ability (Trail Making Test-B, TMT-B)

  Set-shifting ability and cognitive flexibility are assessed using the Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B), which requires alternating between numbers and letters in sequence. Performance is indexed by completion time (seconds). Change is assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention performance.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Change in subjective stress

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in daily stress

  Baseline(pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in alexithymia

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in executive function difficulties (self-report)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

• Change in peer relationship quality

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and after the 21-day intervention period

Study Arms (1)

NEMO-I Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this single-arm study use the NEMO-I mobile application at home for 21 days, at their convenience each day (a minimum of 10 minutes per day is recommended). Cognitive and emotional outcomes are assessed before and after the intervention period.

Behavioral: NEMO-I (Neuro-cognitive Emotion Monitoring-Intervention)

Interventions

NEMO-I (Neuro-cognitive Emotion Monitoring-Intervention) BEHAVIORAL

NEMO-I is a mobile application that delivers evidence-based psychological techniques in a gamified format. It consists of seven brief activities-including facial expression imitation, singing, breathing and stretching with nature sounds, reading tips for everyday concerns, rhythm-based instrument play, room decoration, and mindfulness-each designed to be completed at home in about 10 minutes. Participants use the application daily during the 21-day intervention period, at their convenience, with a recommended minimum of 10 minutes per day.

NEMO-I Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Middle or high school students currently enrolled in school
• Using an Android-based smartphone
• Voluntary agreement to participate, with consent from a legal guardian

You may not qualify if:

• Borderline intellectual functioning or intellectual disability (IQ below 80)
• Visual or hearing impairment
• Prior diagnosis of intellectual, visual, or hearing impairment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Seoul Women's University: lead
• Korea Health Industry Development Institute: collaborator
• Ministry of Health & Welfare, Korea: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Seoul Women's University

Seoul, Seoul, 01797, South Korea

Location

Study Officials

• Hyunjoo Song, PhD

  Seoul Women's University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Myeongjie Im, MA

CONTACT

+82-10-2588-0859; imj@swu.ac.kr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2026
• First Posted: July 14, 2026
• Study Start: July 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2027
• Last Updated: July 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

KR (1)