Developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbot for Adolescents and Young Adults With Eating Disorders

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07237607

Run by

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

People needed

20

Starts

2026-03-23

Expected to finish

2027-06-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-15

Who can join

Age: 12 and older, up to 26. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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

You may not qualify if…

• Diagnosis of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
• Have acute suicidality
• Diagnosis of an intellectual disability

Where it is running

• Penn State College of Medicine — Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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