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Digital Humans for Depression Assessment and Intervention Support: Scoping Review.

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Digital humans offer scalable mental health support for depression management, aiding in assessment and therapy. These AI agents provide accessible, stigma-free care, comparable to human providers.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Mental Health Technology
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Digital Therapeutics

Background:

  • The global rise in mental health issues necessitates innovative, accessible interventions.
  • Digital humans (virtual agents/avatars) show promise for delivering scalable mental health support.
  • These agents can reach diverse populations and settings effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of digital humans in depression management.
  • To identify applications in depression diagnosis and therapy.
  • To evaluate digital human design (appearance, interaction, intelligence, roles).

Main Methods:

  • Scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
  • Searched ACM, IEEE, Web of Science, PubMed for relevant literature.
  • Included studies on digital human development, implementation, or evaluation for mental health.

Main Results:

  • 20 studies (2010-2024) analyzed: 35% assessment, 55% intervention, 10% combined.
  • Digital humans used in assessment (questionnaires, interviews) and interventions (CBT, psychoeducation, etc.).
  • Roles included interviewer, facilitator, counselor, educator, and actor, demonstrating versatility.

Conclusions:

  • Digital humans are transformative for depression management, aiding assessment and intervention.
  • They offer advantages like 24/7 access, reduced stigma, and personalized support.
  • Further research is needed to explore their full potential in diverse therapeutic contexts.