Adolescent Chatbot

Improving Access to Services, Preventing Eating Disorders, and Addressing Comorbid Depression and Anxiety in Diverse Adolescents

The purpose of this study is to test an eating disorders prevention digital chatbot program in a diverse group of adolescents.

Eating disorders (EDs) are impacting youth at extreme rates, with up to 22% of adolescents reporting ED symptoms, and are associated with very high psychiatric comorbidity. Since adolescence is a critical period for the onset of eating disorders, prevention during this stage is essential to reducing lifetime prevalence. Interventions have been developed to prevent the onset of these devastating disorders, but these programs are generally not publicly available and rarely offer support for addressing comorbidity or the unique needs of vulnerable subpopulations (e.g., low-income populations, sexual and gender minorities, racial/ethnic minorities, those from rural areas), who are even less likely to have access to high-quality care. One scalable, engaging, easy-to use, and convenient approach to increasing access to evidence-based EDs prevention for underserved groups involves using a chatbot. This project will adapt our team's existing EDs prevention chatbot for use with adolescents, including those from diverse backgrounds, and evaluate its effectiveness. Our deep industry and non-profit partnerships will ensure scalability and ultimate real-world impact.

Inclusion Criteria

1. 13 - 19 years old
2. Owns a smartphone
3. Speaks English
4. US resident
5. Screens as at-risk for an eating disorder
6. Not currently in treatment for an eating disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Below 13 or older than 19 years of age

2. Does not own a smartphone

3. Does not speak English

4. Lives outside the US

5. Screens as:

   1. Having a subclinical or clinical ED
   2. Not at risk for an ED
   3. In treatment for an ED