Effectiveness of a chatbot for eating disorders prevention: A randomized clinical trial

Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft; William W. Chan; Arielle C. Smith; Marie Laure Firebaugh; Lauren A. Fowler; Naira Topooco; Bianca DePietro; Denise E. Wilfley; C. Barr Taylor; Nicholas C. Jacobson

doi:10.1002/eat.23662

Effectiveness of a chatbot for eating disorders prevention: A randomized clinical trial

Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft, William W. Chan, Arielle C. Smith, Marie Laure Firebaugh, Lauren A. Fowler, Naira Topooco, Bianca DePietro, Denise E. Wilfley, C. Barr Taylor, Nicholas C. Jacobson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Prevention of eating disorders (EDs) is of high importance. However, digital programs with human moderation are unlikely to be disseminated widely. The aim of this study was to test whether a chatbot (i.e., computer program simulating human conversation) would significantly reduce ED risk factors (i.e., weight/shape concerns, thin-ideal internalization) in women at high risk for an ED, compared to waitlist control, as well as whether it would significantly reduce overall ED psychopathology, depression, and anxiety and prevent ED onset.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	343-353
Number of pages	11
Journal	International Journal of Eating Disorders
Volume	55
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23662
State	Published - Mar 2022

Keywords

anxiety
chatbot
conversational agent
depression
feeding and eating disorders
female
follow-up studies
humans
psychopathology
risk factors

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10.1002/eat.23662

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abstract = "Objective: Prevention of eating disorders (EDs) is of high importance. However, digital programs with human moderation are unlikely to be disseminated widely. The aim of this study was to test whether a chatbot (i.e., computer program simulating human conversation) would significantly reduce ED risk factors (i.e., weight/shape concerns, thin-ideal internalization) in women at high risk for an ED, compared to waitlist control, as well as whether it would significantly reduce overall ED psychopathology, depression, and anxiety and prevent ED onset.",

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AU - Topooco, Naira

AU - DePietro, Bianca

AU - Wilfley, Denise E.

AU - Taylor, C. Barr

AU - Jacobson, Nicholas C.

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Effectiveness of a chatbot for eating disorders prevention: A randomized clinical trial

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Keywords

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