An AI-powered chatbot produced similar outcomes to outpatient therapy, a study published March 27 in NEJM AI found.
The study, conducted by researchers at Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, N.H., was the first of a generative AI-powered chatbot, according to a March 27 news release.
Participants diagnosed with depression in the trial reported a 51% average reduction in symptoms after interacting with the chatbot, named Therabot, for eight weeks.
Here are five things to know:
- Patients diagnosed with anxiety reported a 31% reduction in symptoms, and those diagnosed with eating disorders reported a 19% drop in concerns related to body image and weight.
- The improvements in symptoms are similar to what patients report after receiving outpatient therapy, Nicholas Jacobson, PhD, an author of the study and associate professor of biomedical data science and psychiatry at Geisel, said in the release.
- Participants in the study interacted with the chatbot for six hours over the eight-week study period.
- Most participants reported levels of trust and collaboration with Therabot similar to those reported for outpatient therapists.
- Generative AI agents are not yet able to operate without supervision in mental health, and more research is needed on the potential risks associated with using the technology for mental health, Michael Heinz, MD, the lead author of the study and assistant professor of psychiatry at Geisel, said.
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