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Review
. 2021 Dec;18(sup1):37-49.
doi: 10.1080/17434440.2021.2013200. Epub 2021 Dec 31.

Artificially intelligent chatbots in digital mental health interventions: a review

Eliane M Boucher  1 , Nicole R Harake  1 , Haley E Ward  1 , Sarah Elizabeth Stoeckl  1 , Junielly Vargas  1 , Jared Minkel  1 , Acacia C Parks  1 , Ran Zilca  1
Affiliations
Review

Artificially intelligent chatbots in digital mental health interventions: a review

Eliane M Boucher et al. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Increasing demand for mental health services and the expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years has driven the development of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs). To date, AI-based chatbots have been integrated into DMHIs to support diagnostics and screening, symptom management and behavior change, and content delivery.

Areas covered: We summarize the current landscape of DMHIs, with a focus on AI-based chatbots. Happify Health's AI chatbot, Anna, serves as a case study for discussion of potential challenges and how these might be addressed, and demonstrates the promise of chatbots as effective, usable, and adoptable within DMHIs. Finally, we discuss ways in which future research can advance the field, addressing topics including perceptions of AI, the impact of individual differences, and implications for privacy and ethics.

Expert opinion: Our discussion concludes with a speculative viewpoint on the future of AI in DMHIs, including the use of chatbots, the evolution of AI, dynamic mental health systems, hyper-personalization, and human-like intervention delivery.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence (AI); chatbots; digital mental health; digital mental health interventions (dmhis).

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