Can AI theraps match the gold standard of cognitive therapy? | Technology News

Can AI theraps ass individuals with their mental health? Researchers at Dartmouth College have published the results of their first-ever clinical trial of an AI therapy chatbot. The study, ‘Randomised Trial of Generative AI Chatbot for Mental Health Treatment’, was conducted a team of researchers affiliated with the Centre for Technology and Behavioural Health (CTBH) at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. 
The study introduced Therabot, an AI-powered chatbot that has been designed to ass with mental health treatment. Therabot is a generative AI chatbot fine-tuned experts to provide mental health support. Based on the study, Therabot offered care that was comparable to ‘gold-standard cognitive therapy’ and showed improvements across anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. 
Therabot was trained on evidence-based therapeutic practices and had built-in safety protocols for crises, with oversight from mental health professionals. Participants in the research engaged with the smartphone-based chatbot for an average six hours across an eight-week trial period. This is as good as going to around eight therapy sessions.
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The AI chatbot achieved a 51 per cent reduction in depression symptoms and a 31 per cent reduction in anxiety. Also, users reported high levels of trust and therapeutic alliance. They also reported forming meaningful bonds with the chatbot and were communicating comfortably. 
AI assance in mental health treatments can be a gamechanger. Many parts of the world continue to have stigma attached to mental health care and often lack access to resources. AI may even prove to be more effective and trusting than human theraps.
When it comes to use cases, AI theraps such as Therabot could act as a supplementary therap to traditional theraps, offering continuous support between sessions. Besides, it could be beneficial for those experiencing early signs of depression. It could also enable mental health care for those in remote and underserved areas with limited access to mental health professionals.
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