ArticleThe International journal of eating disorders2022
Development and usability testing of a chatbot to promote mental health services use among individuals with eating disorders following screening.
Article in The International journal of eating disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 69 citations in OpenAlex.
- Usability and User Experience Assessment of Health Care Conversational Agents Using Validated Subjective Instruments: Systematic Review and Comparative Analysis.JMIR human factors · 2026Pooled it
- Interventions That Use Highly Visual Social Media Platforms to Tackle Unhealthy Body Image in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Quasi-Experimental Studies.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- The Effectiveness of a Chatbot Single-Session Intervention for People on Waitlists for Eating Disorder Treatment: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Effects of Chatbot Components to Facilitate Mental Health Services Use in Individuals With Eating Disorders Following Online Screening: An Optimization Randomized Controlled Trial.The International journal of eating disorders · 2024Trial
- Using Chatbot Technology to Improve Brazilian Adolescents' Body Image and Mental Health at Scale: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Trial
- Body Image and Eating Disorder Education Chatbot, JEM, in Australia and Canada: First 6-Month Real-World Survey Evaluation.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Adolescent Perceptions of an Online Safety Chatbot: Survey Study.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Digital Conversational Agents for the Mental Health of Treatment-Seeking Youth: Scoping Review.JMIR mental health · 2025Article
- Designing Digital Mental Health Tools to Support the Needs of Black Adults in the United States: Qualitative Analysis.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Charting the evolution of artificial intelligence mental health chatbots from rule-based systems to large language models: a systematic review.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2025Article
- Recommendations for Mental Health Chatbot Conversations: An Integrative Review.Journal of advanced nursing · 2025Review
- New Doc on the Block: Scoping Review of AI Systems Delivering Motivational Interviewing for Health Behavior Change.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Co-design of a single session intervention chatbot for people on waitlists for eating disorder treatment: a qualitative interview and workshop study.Journal of eating disorders · 2025Article
- The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Nursing Practice: An Integrative Review.International journal of mental health nursing · 2025Review
- Alter egos alter engagement: perspective-taking can improve disclosure quantity and depth to AI chatbots in promoting mental wellbeing.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Adapting an Online Guided Self-Help CBT Programme Targeting Disordered Eating for Students in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Qualitative Study.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Roles, Users, Benefits, and Limitations of Chatbots in Health Care: Rapid Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Review
- Eating disorder symptoms and comorbid mental health risk among teens recruited to a digital intervention research study via two online approaches.The International journal of eating disorders · 2024Article
- Rates and correlates of study enrolment and use of a chatbot aimed to promote mental health services use for eating disorders following online screening.European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association · 2024Article
- Mental Distress, Label Avoidance, and Use of a Mental Health Chatbot: Results From a US Survey.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveA significant gap exists between those who need and those who receive care for eating disorders (EDs). Novel solutions are needed to encourage service use and address treatment barriers. This study developed and evaluated the usability of a chatbot designed for pairing with online ED screening. The tool aimed to promote mental health service utilization by improving motivation for treatment and self-efficacy among individuals with EDs.
methodsA chatbot prototype, Alex, was designed using decision trees and theoretically-informed components: psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, personalized recommendations, and repeated administration. Usability testing was conducted over four iterative cycles, with user feedback informing refinements to the next iteration. Post-testing, participants (N= 21) completed the System Usability Scale (SUS), the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire (USE), and a semi-structured interview.
resultsInterview feedback detailed chatbot aspects participants enjoyed and aspects necessitating improvement. Feedback converged on four themes: user experience, chatbot qualities, chatbot content, and ease of use. Following refinements, users described Alex as humanlike, supportive, and encouraging. Content was perceived as novel and personally relevant. USE scores across domains were generally above average (~5 out of 7), and SUS scores indicated "good" to "excellent" usability across cycles, with the final iteration receiving the highest average score. DISCUSSION: Overall, participants generally reflected positively on interactions with Alex, including the initial version. Refinements between cycles further improved user experiences. This study provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and acceptance of a chatbot designed to promote motivation for and use of services among individuals with EDs. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Low rates of service utilization and treatment have been observed among individuals following online eating disorder screening. Tools are needed, including scalable, digital options, that can be easily paired with screening, to improve motivation for addressing eating disorders and promote service utilization.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.