Using Psychological Artificial Intelligence (Tess) to Relieve Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: Randomized Controlled Trial
An early randomized controlled trial of Tess (X2AI), a conversational-agent mental-health intervention, testing its effect on depression and anxiety symptoms in US university students over a 2-4 week period compared to a control condition.
Key Findings
- Randomized controlled trial of 75 US university students found statistically significant reductions in depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms after using Tess over 2-4 weeks, relative to control
- One of the earliest RCT-validated conversational-AI mental-health interventions, predating Wysa's and Tess's own later replications
Methodology Notes
Randomized controlled trial, 75 US university students, PHQ-9/GAD-7 outcome measures over a 2-4 week intervention period. A 2021 Argentina-based replication of this same intervention (already staged as a companion entry) found no significant difference from control, a useful calibration counterpoint.
Sources
JMIR Mental Health (primary)
Archived snapshot (Wayback Machine) — preserved against link rot
Authors
Russell Fulmer, Angela Joerin, Breanna Gentile, Lysanne Lakerink, Michiel Rauws
Tags
Cite This
APA
Russell Fulmer et al. (2018). Using Psychological Artificial Intelligence (Tess) to Relieve Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health. https://mental.jmir.org/2018/4/e64/
Related Insights
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 · 6 Jun 2017
Artificial Intelligence-Based Chatbot for Anxiety and Depression in University Students: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
JMIR Formative Research · 12 Aug 2021
An Empathy-Driven, Conversational Artificial Intelligence Agent (Wysa) for Digital Mental Well-Being: Real-World Data Evaluation Mixed-Methods Study
JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 23 Nov 2018