Generative AI Mental Health Chatbots as Therapeutic Tools: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Their Role in Reducing Mental Health Issues.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has driven the rapid development of AI mental health chatbots. Most current reviews investigated the effectiveness of rule-based or retrieval-based chatbots. To date, there is no comprehensive review that systematically synthesizes the effect of generative AI (GenAI) chatbot's impact on mental health.

Objective

This review aims to (1) narratively synthesize existing GenAI mental health chatbots' technical features, treatment and research designs, and sample characteristics through a systematic review of quantitative studies and (2) quantify the effectiveness and key moderators of these rigorously designed trials on GenAI mental health chatbots through a meta-analysis of only randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Meth

SUBMITTER: Zhang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12707440 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature