Delivering Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Young Adults With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Using a Fully Automated Conversational Agent (Woebot): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Two-week unblinded randomized controlled trial (n=70, ages 18-28) comparing a CBT-delivering conversational agent (Woebot) with an information-only control. Measures change in depression and anxiety symptoms and engagement.
Key Findings
- The Woebot group significantly reduced depression symptoms (PHQ-9) versus control
- Anxiety symptoms fell among completers in both conditions
- Establishes that a fully automated conversational agent can deliver a therapeutic intervention with measurable effect
Methodology Notes
Peer-reviewed RCT, JMIR Mental Health 4(2):e19 (6 June 2017), DOI 10.2196/mental.7785. Short two-week unblinded trial, small sample; foundational rather than definitive. mental.jmir.org is JS-rendered to fetchers; confirmed via PMC (PMC5478797).
Sources
JMIR Mental Health article (primary)
Archived snapshot (Wayback Machine) — preserved against link rot
Authors
Kathleen Kara Fitzpatrick, Alison Darcy, Molly Vierhile
Tags
Cite This
APA
Kathleen Kara Fitzpatrick, Alison Darcy, Molly Vierhile (2017). Delivering Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Young Adults With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Using a Fully Automated Conversational Agent (Woebot): A Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health. https://mental.jmir.org/2017/2/e19/
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