A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that AI bots can deliver mental health therapy with equal efficacy to human clinicians. Researchers at Dartmouth College built an AI bot, dubbed a “therabot,” and trained it in clinical best practices over five years. The results showed significant improvement in patients with diagnosable conditions like depression and anxiety.
The study gathered 200 participants who received either AI therapy or no treatment, with those using the AI bots showing improved outcomes compared to non-treated individuals. Surprisingly, participants formed strong bonds with their AI therapists, trusting them to address mental health symptoms. This ability to access support at any time, without time constraints, is another advantage of AI therapy.
The American Psychological Association has expressed concerns over unregulated AI therapy bots but acknowledges the rigorous clinical training and psychological science behind this model. Researchers emphasize that the technology still requires further testing before its release in the market.
Contrary to fears, experts believe human therapists should not be concerned about being replaced by AI counterparts. With a growing mental health shortage, having all available quality therapists – human or bot – is essential.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5351312/artificial-intelligence-mental-health-therapy