Development of a chatbot for depression: adolescent perceptions and recommendations

Background

Chatbots are a relatively new technology that has shown promising outcomes for mental health symptoms in adults; however, few studies have been done with adolescents or reported adolescent user experiences and recommendations for chatbot development.

Methods

Twenty three participants ages 13–18 (M_age = 14.96) engaged in user testing of a chatbot developed to psychoeducate adolescents on depression, teach behavioral activation, and change negative thoughts. Thematic analysis was conducted of participants' responses to user experience questions, impressions, and recommendations.

Results

Over half (56.5%) of the sample completed the full intervention and provided user experience feedback online. The average NPS score was 6.04 (SD = 2.18), and 64.3% (n = 9) said they would use the chatbot in the future. Of all user experience responses, 54.5% were positive. The most common impressions were related to symptom improvement (61.1%) and availability (52.8%) The most frequent recommendations were related to solving technical problems (66%).

Conclusions

Chatbots for mental health are acceptable to some adolescents, a population that tends to be reluctant to engage with traditional mental health services. Most participants reported positive experiences with the chatbot, believing that it could help with symptom improvement and is highly available. Adolescents highlighted some technical and stylistic problems that developers should consider. More pilot and user testing is needed to develop mental health chatbots that are appealing and relevant to adolescents.