AI Chatbot Therabot Matches Human Therapists in Mental Health Care, Study Finds

Dartmouth's randomized trial reveals Therabot's clinical efficacy and therapeutic bond, but experts urge supervised use for safety.

Therabot, a generative AI chatbot developed at Dartmouth, showed significant symptom reduction for depression, anxiety, and eating disorders in a national randomized trial.
Participants rated their therapeutic alliance with Therabot as comparable to that of human therapists, challenging assumptions about AI's ability to foster trust and empathy.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlights Therabot's potential to address mental health provider shortages with scalable AI interventions.
Experts caution that while promising, Therabot and similar AI tools require human oversight to manage risks, including inappropriate responses and crisis scenarios.
Beyond clinical use, Therabot's success suggests applications in corporate wellness programs, offering cost-effective mental health support for employees.