Systematic review and meta-analysis of AI-based conversational agents for promoting mental health and well-being

npj Digital Medicine, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 19, 2023

Abstract Conversational artificial intelligence (AI), particularly AI-based conversational agents (CAs), is gaining traction in mental health care. Despite their growing usage, there a scarcity of comprehensive evaluations impact on and well-being. This systematic review meta-analysis aims to fill this gap by synthesizing evidence the effectiveness CAs improving factors influencing user experience. Twelve databases were searched for experimental studies CAs’ effects illnesses psychological well-being published before May 26, 2023. Out 7834 records, 35 eligible identified review, out which 15 randomized controlled trials included meta-analysis. The revealed that significantly reduce symptoms depression (Hedge’s g 0.64 [95% CI 0.17–1.12]) distress 0.7 0.18–1.22]). These more pronounced are multimodal, generative AI-based, integrated with mobile/instant messaging apps, targeting clinical/subclinical elderly populations. However, CA-based interventions showed no significant improvement overall 0.32 –0.13 0.78]). User experience was largely shaped quality human-AI therapeutic relationships, content engagement, effective communication. findings underscore potential addressing issues. Future research should investigate underlying mechanisms effectiveness, assess long-term across various outcomes, evaluate safe integration large language models (LLMs)

Язык: Английский

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Conversational Agent Interventions for Mental Health Problems: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 25, С. e43862 - e43862

Опубликована: Март 10, 2023

Mental health problems are a crucial global public concern. Owing to their cost-effectiveness and accessibility, conversational agent interventions (CAIs) promising in the field of mental care.

Язык: Английский

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Roles, Users, Benefits, and Limitations of Chatbots in Health Care: Rapid Review

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 26, С. e56930 - e56930

Опубликована: Апрель 12, 2024

Background Chatbots, or conversational agents, have emerged as significant tools in health care, driven by advancements artificial intelligence and digital technology. These programs are designed to simulate human conversations, addressing various care needs. However, no comprehensive synthesis of chatbots’ roles, users, benefits, limitations is available inform future research application the field. Objective This review aims describe characteristics, focusing on their diverse roles pathway, user groups, limitations. Methods A rapid published literature from 2017 2023 was performed with a search strategy developed collaboration sciences librarian implemented MEDLINE Embase databases. Primary studies reporting chatbot benefits were included. Two reviewers dual-screened results. Extracted data subjected content analysis. Results The categorized into 2 themes: delivery remote services, including patient support, management, education, skills building, behavior promotion, provision administrative assistance providers. User groups spanned across patients chronic conditions well cancer; individuals focused lifestyle improvements; demographic such women, families, older adults. Professionals students also alongside seeking mental behavioral change, educational enhancement. chatbots classified improvement quality efficiency cost-effectiveness delivery. identified encompassed ethical challenges, medicolegal safety concerns, technical difficulties, experience issues, societal economic impacts. Conclusions Health offer wide spectrum applications, potentially impacting aspects care. While they promising for improving quality, integration system must be approached consideration ensure optimal, safe, equitable use.

Язык: Английский

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The therapeutic effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbots in alleviation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in short-course treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Affective Disorders, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 356, С. 459 - 469

Опубликована: Апрель 15, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Performance of emergency triage prediction of an open access natural language processing based chatbot application (ChatGPT)

Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 23(3), С. 156 - 161

Опубликована: Июнь 22, 2023

OBJECTIVES: Artificial intelligence companies have been increasing their initiatives recently to improve the results of chatbots, which are software programs that can converse with a human in natural language. The role chatbots health care is deemed worthy research. OpenAI’s ChatGPT supervised and empowered machine learning-based chatbot. aim this study was determine performance emergency medicine (EM) triage prediction. METHODS: This preliminary, cross-sectional conducted case scenarios generated by researchers based on severity index (ESI) handbook v4 cases. Two independent EM specialists who were experts ESI scale determined categories for each case. A third specialist consulted as arbiter, if necessary. Consensus scenario assumed reference category. Subsequently, queried answer recorded Inconsistent classifications between category defined over-triage (false positive) or under-triage negative). RESULTS: Fifty assessed study. Reliability analysis showed fair agreement (Cohen’s Kappa: 0.341). Eleven cases (22%) over triaged 9 (18%) under ChatGPT. In (18%), reported two consecutive categories, one matched expert consensus. It had an overall sensitivity 57.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34–78.2), specificity 34.5% CI: 17.9–54.3), positive predictive value (PPV) 38.7% 21.8–57.8), negative (NPV) 52.6 28.9–75.6), F1 score 0.461. high acuity (ESI-1 ESI-2), 76.2% 52.8–91.8), 93.1% 77.2–99.2), PPV 88.9% 65.3–98.6), NPV 84.4 67.2–94.7), 0.821. receiver operating characteristic curve area 0.846 0.724–0.969, P < 0.001) CONCLUSION: best when predicting ESI-2). may be useful determining requiring critical care. When trained more medical knowledge, accurate other predictions.

Язык: Английский

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The Potential of Chatbots for Emotional Support and Promoting Mental Well-Being in Different Cultures: Mixed Methods Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 25, С. e51712 - e51712

Опубликована: Сен. 29, 2023

Artificial intelligence chatbot research has focused on technical advances in natural language processing and validating the effectiveness of human-machine conversations specific settings. However, real-world chat data remain proprietary unexplored despite their growing popularity, new analyses uses effects mitigating negative moods are urgently needed.In this study, we investigated whether how artificial chatbots facilitate expression user emotions, specifically sadness depression. We also examined cultural differences depressive among users Western Eastern countries.This study used SimSimi, a global open-domain social chatbot, to analyze 152,783 conversation utterances containing terms "depress" "sad" 3 countries (Canada, United Kingdom, States) 5 (Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand). Study 1 reports findings people talk about depression based Linguistic Inquiry Word Count n-gram analyses. In 2, classified into predefined topics using semisupervised classification techniques better understand types prevalent chats. then identified distinguishing features chat-based discourse disparity between users.Our revealed intriguing differences. Chatbot indicated stronger emotions than (positive: P<.001; negative: P=.01); for example, more words associated with (P=.01). were likely share vulnerable such as mental health (P<.001), group had greater tendency discuss sensitive swear (P<.001) death (P<.001). addition, when talking chatbots, expressed differently other platforms. Users open expressing emotional vulnerability related or sad (74,045/148,590, 49.83%) media (149/1978, 7.53%). tended not broach that require support from others, seeking advice daily life difficulties, unlike media. acted anticipation conversational agents exhibit active listening skills foster safe space where they can openly states depression.The highlight potential chatbot-assisted support, emphasizing importance continued policy-wise efforts improve interactions those need assistance. Our indicate possibility providing helpful information moods, especially who have difficulty communicating humans.

Язык: Английский

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Waiting for a digital therapist: three challenges on the path to psychotherapy delivered by artificial intelligence

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2023

Growing demand for broadly accessible mental health care, together with the rapid development of new technologies, trigger discussions about feasibility psychotherapeutic interventions based on interactions Conversational Artificial Intelligence (CAI). Many authors argue that while currently available CAI can be a useful supplement human-delivered psychotherapy, it is not yet capable delivering fully fledged psychotherapy its own. The goal this paper to investigate what are most important obstacles our way developing systems in future. To end, we formulate and discuss three challenges central quest. Firstly, might able develop effective AI-based unless deepen understanding makes effective. Secondly, assuming requires building therapeutic relationship, clear whether delivered by non-human agents. Thirdly, conducting problem too complicated narrow AI, i.e., AI proficient dealing only relatively simple well-delineated tasks. If case, should expect fully-fledged until so-called "general" or "human-like" developed. While believe all these ultimately overcome, think being mindful them crucial ensure well-balanced steady progress path psychotherapy.

Язык: Английский

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Use of automated conversational agents in improving young population mental health: a scoping review

npj Digital Medicine, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(1)

Опубликована: Март 19, 2024

Automated conversational agents (CAs) emerged as a promising solution in mental health interventions among young people. Therefore, the objective of this scoping review is to examine current state research into fully automated CAs mediated for emotional component Selected databases were searched March 2023. Included studies primary research, reporting on development, feasibility/usability, or evaluation tool improve population. Twenty-five included (N = 1707). Most applications standalone preventions targeting anxiety and depression. predominantly AI-based chatbots, using text main communication channel. Overall, results showed that problems are acceptable, engaging with high usability. However, clinical efficacy far less conclusive, since almost half reported no significant effect outcomes. Based these findings, it can be concluded there pressing need existing increase their well conducting more rigorous methodological area.

Язык: Английский

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AI Chatbots for Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Effectiveness, Feasibility, and Applications

Applied Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(13), С. 5889 - 5889

Опубликована: Июль 5, 2024

Mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide, and there is global shortage mental professionals. AI chatbots have emerged as potential solution, offering accessible scalable interventions. This study aimed to conduct scoping review evaluate the effectiveness feasibility in treating conditions. A literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycNet, well using AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot Consensus. Relevant studies on chatbot interventions for were selected based predefined inclusion exclusion criteria. Data extraction quality assessment performed independently by reviewers. The yielded 15 eligible covering various application areas, such support during COVID-19, specific conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use disorders), preventive care, promotion, usability assessments. demonstrated benefits improving emotional well-being, addressing conditions, facilitating behavior change. However, challenges related usability, engagement, integration with existing healthcare systems identified. hold promise interventions, but widespread adoption hinges systems. Enhancing personalization context-specific adaptation key. Future research should focus large-scale trials, optimal human–AI integration, ethical social implications.

Язык: Английский

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Therapeutic Chatbots as Cognitive-Affective Artifacts

Topoi, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 43(3), С. 795 - 807

Опубликована: Апрель 6, 2024

Abstract Conversational Artificial Intelligence (CAI) systems (also known as AI “chatbots”) are among the most promising examples of use technology in mental health care. With already millions users worldwide, CAI is likely to change landscape psychological help. Most researchers agree that existing CAIs not “digital therapists” and using them a substitute for psychotherapy delivered by human. But if they therapists, what they, role can play care? To answer these questions, we appeal two well-established widely discussed concepts: cognitive affective artifacts. Cognitive artifacts artificial devices contributing functionally performance task. Affective objects which have capacity alter subjects’ state. We argue therapeutic kind cognitive-affective contribute positive (i) simulating (quasi-)therapeutic interaction, (ii) supporting tasks, (iii) altering condition their users. This sheds new light on why virtually all implement principles techniques Behavioral Therapy — orientation according and, ultimately, mediated change. Simultaneously, it allows us conceptualize better potential limitations applying technologies therapy.

Язык: Английский

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