Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Autores
Klos, María Carolina; Escoredo, Milagros; Joerin, Angie; Lemos, Viviana Noemí; Rauws, Michiel; Bunge, Eduardo L.
Año de publicación
2020
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Background: The use of artificial intelligence based chatbots as an instrument of psychological intervention is emerging, however no studies have been reported in Latin America. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the viability, acceptability and potential impact of Tess, a chatbot, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in university students. Methodology: This was a pilot randomized controlled trial. The experimental condition used Tess for eight weeks and the control condition was assigned to a psychoeducation book on depression. Comparisons were conducted using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests for depression symptoms, and Independent and Paired Samples t Tests to analyze anxiety symptoms. Results: The initial sample consisted of 181 Argentinian college students (87.2% female) ages 18 to33. A total of 39 (39%) participants in the experimental condition and 34 (41%) in the control group, provided data at week eight. There was an average of 472 (SD=249.52) messages exchanged and an average of 116 (SD=73.87) of the messages were sent from the user in response to Tess. A higher number of messages exchanged with Tess was associated with positive feedback (F2, 36=4.37; p =.02). No significant intergroup differences from baseline to week eight between the experimental group and the control group were found for depression and anxiety symptoms. However, significant intragroup differences demonstrated that the experimental group showed a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms; no differences were observed for the control group. No significant differences were found for depressive symptoms within the groups. Conclusions: Students engaged a considerable amount of time exchanging messages with Tess and positive feedback was associated with higher numbers of messages exchanged. The initial results show promising evidence for the usability and acceptability of Tess in the Argentinian population. Research on chatbots is still in its initial stages and further research is needed.
Fil: Klos, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi". Grupo Vinculado CIIPME - Entre Ríos - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi"; Argentina
Fil: Escoredo, Milagros. X2ai Inc.; Estados Unidos
Fil: Joerin, Angie. X2ai Inc.; Estados Unidos
Fil: Lemos, Viviana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi". Grupo Vinculado CIIPME - Entre Ríos - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi"; Argentina
Fil: Rauws, Michiel. X2ai Inc.; Estados Unidos
Fil: Bunge, Eduardo L.. Palo Alto University; Estados Unidos
Materia
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CHATBOTS
CONVERSATIONAL AGENTS
MENTAL HEALTH
ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
COLLEGE STUDENTS
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/138394
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/138394
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trialKlos, María CarolinaEscoredo, MilagrosJoerin, AngieLemos, Viviana NoemíRauws, MichielBunge, Eduardo L.ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCECHATBOTSCONVERSATIONAL AGENTSMENTAL HEALTHANXIETYDEPRESSIONCOLLEGE STUDENTShttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/5.1https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5Background: The use of artificial intelligence based chatbots as an instrument of psychological intervention is emerging, however no studies have been reported in Latin America. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the viability, acceptability and potential impact of Tess, a chatbot, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in university students. Methodology: This was a pilot randomized controlled trial. The experimental condition used Tess for eight weeks and the control condition was assigned to a psychoeducation book on depression. Comparisons were conducted using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests for depression symptoms, and Independent and Paired Samples t Tests to analyze anxiety symptoms. Results: The initial sample consisted of 181 Argentinian college students (87.2% female) ages 18 to33. A total of 39 (39%) participants in the experimental condition and 34 (41%) in the control group, provided data at week eight. There was an average of 472 (SD=249.52) messages exchanged and an average of 116 (SD=73.87) of the messages were sent from the user in response to Tess. A higher number of messages exchanged with Tess was associated with positive feedback (F2, 36=4.37; p =.02). No significant intergroup differences from baseline to week eight between the experimental group and the control group were found for depression and anxiety symptoms. However, significant intragroup differences demonstrated that the experimental group showed a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms; no differences were observed for the control group. No significant differences were found for depressive symptoms within the groups. Conclusions: Students engaged a considerable amount of time exchanging messages with Tess and positive feedback was associated with higher numbers of messages exchanged. The initial results show promising evidence for the usability and acceptability of Tess in the Argentinian population. Research on chatbots is still in its initial stages and further research is needed.Fil: Klos, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi". Grupo Vinculado CIIPME - Entre Ríos - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi"; ArgentinaFil: Escoredo, Milagros. X2ai Inc.; Estados UnidosFil: Joerin, Angie. X2ai Inc.; Estados UnidosFil: Lemos, Viviana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi". Grupo Vinculado CIIPME - Entre Ríos - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi"; ArgentinaFil: Rauws, Michiel. X2ai Inc.; Estados UnidosFil: Bunge, Eduardo L.. Palo Alto University; Estados UnidosJMIR Formative Research2020-07info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/138394Klos, María Carolina; Escoredo, Milagros; Joerin, Angie; Lemos, Viviana Noemí; Rauws, Michiel; et al.; Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial; JMIR Formative Research; Journal Of Medical Internet Research; 5; 8; 7-2020; 1-282561-326XCONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/20678/acceptedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.2196/20678info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-10-15T15:28:05Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/138394instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-10-15 15:28:06.096CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
title Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
spellingShingle Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Klos, María Carolina
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CHATBOTS
CONVERSATIONAL AGENTS
MENTAL HEALTH
ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
COLLEGE STUDENTS
title_short Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_full Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_sort Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Klos, María Carolina
Escoredo, Milagros
Joerin, Angie
Lemos, Viviana Noemí
Rauws, Michiel
Bunge, Eduardo L.
author Klos, María Carolina
author_facet Klos, María Carolina
Escoredo, Milagros
Joerin, Angie
Lemos, Viviana Noemí
Rauws, Michiel
Bunge, Eduardo L.
author_role author
author2 Escoredo, Milagros
Joerin, Angie
Lemos, Viviana Noemí
Rauws, Michiel
Bunge, Eduardo L.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CHATBOTS
CONVERSATIONAL AGENTS
MENTAL HEALTH
ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
COLLEGE STUDENTS
topic ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CHATBOTS
CONVERSATIONAL AGENTS
MENTAL HEALTH
ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
COLLEGE STUDENTS
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5.1
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Background: The use of artificial intelligence based chatbots as an instrument of psychological intervention is emerging, however no studies have been reported in Latin America. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the viability, acceptability and potential impact of Tess, a chatbot, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in university students. Methodology: This was a pilot randomized controlled trial. The experimental condition used Tess for eight weeks and the control condition was assigned to a psychoeducation book on depression. Comparisons were conducted using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests for depression symptoms, and Independent and Paired Samples t Tests to analyze anxiety symptoms. Results: The initial sample consisted of 181 Argentinian college students (87.2% female) ages 18 to33. A total of 39 (39%) participants in the experimental condition and 34 (41%) in the control group, provided data at week eight. There was an average of 472 (SD=249.52) messages exchanged and an average of 116 (SD=73.87) of the messages were sent from the user in response to Tess. A higher number of messages exchanged with Tess was associated with positive feedback (F2, 36=4.37; p =.02). No significant intergroup differences from baseline to week eight between the experimental group and the control group were found for depression and anxiety symptoms. However, significant intragroup differences demonstrated that the experimental group showed a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms; no differences were observed for the control group. No significant differences were found for depressive symptoms within the groups. Conclusions: Students engaged a considerable amount of time exchanging messages with Tess and positive feedback was associated with higher numbers of messages exchanged. The initial results show promising evidence for the usability and acceptability of Tess in the Argentinian population. Research on chatbots is still in its initial stages and further research is needed.
Fil: Klos, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi". Grupo Vinculado CIIPME - Entre Ríos - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi"; Argentina
Fil: Escoredo, Milagros. X2ai Inc.; Estados Unidos
Fil: Joerin, Angie. X2ai Inc.; Estados Unidos
Fil: Lemos, Viviana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi". Grupo Vinculado CIIPME - Entre Ríos - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J. A. Rimoldi"; Argentina
Fil: Rauws, Michiel. X2ai Inc.; Estados Unidos
Fil: Bunge, Eduardo L.. Palo Alto University; Estados Unidos
description Background: The use of artificial intelligence based chatbots as an instrument of psychological intervention is emerging, however no studies have been reported in Latin America. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the viability, acceptability and potential impact of Tess, a chatbot, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in university students. Methodology: This was a pilot randomized controlled trial. The experimental condition used Tess for eight weeks and the control condition was assigned to a psychoeducation book on depression. Comparisons were conducted using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests for depression symptoms, and Independent and Paired Samples t Tests to analyze anxiety symptoms. Results: The initial sample consisted of 181 Argentinian college students (87.2% female) ages 18 to33. A total of 39 (39%) participants in the experimental condition and 34 (41%) in the control group, provided data at week eight. There was an average of 472 (SD=249.52) messages exchanged and an average of 116 (SD=73.87) of the messages were sent from the user in response to Tess. A higher number of messages exchanged with Tess was associated with positive feedback (F2, 36=4.37; p =.02). No significant intergroup differences from baseline to week eight between the experimental group and the control group were found for depression and anxiety symptoms. However, significant intragroup differences demonstrated that the experimental group showed a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms; no differences were observed for the control group. No significant differences were found for depressive symptoms within the groups. Conclusions: Students engaged a considerable amount of time exchanging messages with Tess and positive feedback was associated with higher numbers of messages exchanged. The initial results show promising evidence for the usability and acceptability of Tess in the Argentinian population. Research on chatbots is still in its initial stages and further research is needed.
publishDate 2020
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2020-07
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/138394
Klos, María Carolina; Escoredo, Milagros; Joerin, Angie; Lemos, Viviana Noemí; Rauws, Michiel; et al.; Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial; JMIR Formative Research; Journal Of Medical Internet Research; 5; 8; 7-2020; 1-28
2561-326X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/138394
identifier_str_mv Klos, María Carolina; Escoredo, Milagros; Joerin, Angie; Lemos, Viviana Noemí; Rauws, Michiel; et al.; Artificial intelligence chatbot for anxiety and depression in university students: a pilot randomized controlled trial; JMIR Formative Research; Journal Of Medical Internet Research; 5; 8; 7-2020; 1-28
2561-326X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/20678/accepted
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.2196/20678
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv JMIR Formative Research
publisher.none.fl_str_mv JMIR Formative Research
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.22299

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