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Chatbot features for anxiety and depression: A scoping review
Arfan Ahmed1, Asmaa Hassan2, Sarah Aziz1
1AI Center for Precision Health, 36579Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
Health Informatics Journal
|January 24, 2023
Summary
Mental health chatbots offer affordable, on-demand virtual assistance for anxiety and depression management, especially when human resources are limited. Their role in mental healthcare is growing.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Mental Health Technology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Chatbots provide accessible support for various health issues, particularly in resource-scarce settings.
- Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can benefit from affordable, efficient virtual assistance.
- The increasing demand for mental health services highlights the need for innovative support solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the features of available chatbots designed for anxiety or depression.
- To understand the current landscape and functionalities of mental health chatbots.
- To identify trends and potential gaps in chatbot development for mental health.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review methodology was employed.
- Six bibliographic databases were searched, including reference list checking.
- 42 studies were included after an initial search of 1302 citations.
Main Results:
- Most studies originated from conference proceedings (62%), followed by journal articles (26%).
- Approximately 60% of chatbots targeted both anxiety and depression; 38% targeted only depression, and 38% targeted only anxiety.
- Avatars or fictional characters were infrequently used (26%).
Conclusions:
- Mental health chatbots offer significant potential to aid patients with anxiety and depression.
- These virtual assistants can provide valuable support to mental healthcare workers, especially amid resource scarcity.
- The integration of real-time personal virtual assistance is crucial for addressing gaps in mental healthcare delivery.
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