Developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbot for Adolescents and Young Adults With Eating Disorders
Developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Exposure Therapy Chatbot for Adolescents and Young Adults With Eating Disorders
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
20 participants
Mar 2, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this study is to develop and refine an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders chatbot web-app that effectively engages adolescents and young adults and decreases anxiety about weight gain. Participants will use the web-app as a supplemental therapeutic tool during their first six weeks of treatment in a Partial Hospitalization Program. Participants will complete assessments every two weeks, including: (1) semi-structured interviews about their experience with the chatbot web-app; (2) implementation outcome measures (e.g., feasibility, usability, acceptability); and (3) anxiety about weight gain.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- Age is between or equal to 12-26 years
- Admitted to the Penn State Health Eating Disorder Partial Hospital Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Have a personal smartphone
- Have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), or other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
- Be English speaking
Exclusion Criteria3
- Diagnosis of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
- Have acute suicidality
- Diagnosis of an intellectual disability
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Interventions
Exp-ED is a text-based digital health application designed for smartphones and personal computers. It provides exposure-based content to adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. The chatbot guides users through exposure exercises (structured steps to reduce anxiety over time), records subjective distress ratings (self-reported anxiety scores), and offers evidence-based coping prompts. These sessions are intended to supplement clinical care during a six-week partial hospitalization program.
Locations(1)
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NCT07237607