Scientists from Dartmouth College conducted a clinical study showing that an AI therapist, Therabot, can be as effective as traditional psychotherapy. The experiment included 210 people with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Half of them used Therabot, and in that group symptom levels decreased: by 51% for depression and by 31% for anxiety disorders.
The key difference between Therabot and other AI systems is its use of evidence-based methods rather than randomly collected internet data. This makes it especially useful for people who cannot access professional help—something that affects every other person with mental health disorders.
The researchers emphasize that AI therapy should not completely replace traditional care. However, it can be a strong supplement, particularly in places where access to specialists is simply limited.
