Feasibility of combining spatial computing and AI for mental health support in anxiety and depression

The increasing need for mental health support and a shortage of therapists have led to the development of the eXtended-reality Artificial Intelligence Assistant (XAIA). This platform combines spatial computing, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide immersive mental health...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NPJ digital medicine 2024-01, Vol.7 (1), p.22-22, Article 22
Main Authors: Spiegel, Brennan M. R., Liran, Omer, Clark, Allistair, Samaan, Jamil S., Khalil, Carine, Chernoff, Robert, Reddy, Kavya, Mehra, Muskaan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
692/700/784
706/689/477
Anxiety
Artificial intelligence
Biomedicine
Biotechnology
Brief Communication
Digital technology
Medical technology
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mental depression
Mental health care
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Summary:The increasing need for mental health support and a shortage of therapists have led to the development of the eXtended-reality Artificial Intelligence Assistant (XAIA). This platform combines spatial computing, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide immersive mental health support. Utilizing GPT-4 for AI-driven therapy, XAIA engaged participants with mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression in biophilic VR environments. Speaking with an AI therapy avatar in VR was considered acceptable, helpful, and safe, with participants observed to engage genuinely with the program. However, some still favored human interaction and identified shortcomings with using a digital VR therapist. The study provides initial evidence of the acceptability and safety of AI psychotherapy via spatial computing, warranting further research on technical enhancements and clinical impact.
ISSN:2398-6352
2398-6352
DOI:10.1038/s41746-024-01011-0